This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7053054.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
EU eyes new priorities after deal | EU eyes new priorities after deal |
(20 minutes later) | |
European Union leaders say the bloc should turn to new priorities such as globalisation now that they have agreed on a treaty to reform EU institutions. | European Union leaders say the bloc should turn to new priorities such as globalisation now that they have agreed on a treaty to reform EU institutions. |
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there would be "a declaration of new priorities to come before the December [European] Council" of EU leaders. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there would be "a declaration of new priorities to come before the December [European] Council" of EU leaders. |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was agreed the EU "should not go on looking inwards". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was agreed the EU "should not go on looking inwards". |
The reform treaty was agreed in Lisbon early on Friday, after much wrangling. | The reform treaty was agreed in Lisbon early on Friday, after much wrangling. |
The agreement, called the Lisbon Treaty, was sealed after objections from Italy and Poland had been overcome. | The agreement, called the Lisbon Treaty, was sealed after objections from Italy and Poland had been overcome. |
The treaty is designed to replace the European Constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and will be formally signed on 13 December. | The treaty is designed to replace the European Constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and will be formally signed on 13 December. |
It includes the creation of a new longer-term president of the European Council and an EU foreign policy chief. | It includes the creation of a new longer-term president of the European Council and an EU foreign policy chief. |
If it is ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009. | If it is ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009. |
National pride | National pride |
"What we've been through in the last five months should remove anyone's taste for institutional issues," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday. | "What we've been through in the last five months should remove anyone's taste for institutional issues," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday. |
With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move - now we can look forward to the future with confidence Jose Socrates,Portuguese Prime Minister Q&A: The Reform Treaty Send us your reaction | With this treaty, Europe is showing that the European project is on the move - now we can look forward to the future with confidence Jose Socrates,Portuguese Prime Minister Q&A: The Reform Treaty Send us your reaction |
Mr Brown said Europe "will move away from the institutional, inward-looking debate of the past, to deal with the full agenda of globalisation". He highlighted jobs, prosperity and the environment as priorities. | |
After seven hours of talks, EU leaders emerged embracing and slapping each other on the back in sheer relief that the most serious crisis in the bloc's 50-year history seemed to be over, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Lisbon says. | After seven hours of talks, EU leaders emerged embracing and slapping each other on the back in sheer relief that the most serious crisis in the bloc's 50-year history seemed to be over, the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Lisbon says. |
In the last-minute negotiations, Italy gained an extra seat in the future European Parliament, returning it to parity with the UK and restoring Italian national pride, our correspondent says. | In the last-minute negotiations, Italy gained an extra seat in the future European Parliament, returning it to parity with the UK and restoring Italian national pride, our correspondent says. |
Poland secured a guarantee that small groups of countries would be able to delay EU decisions they do not like - a victory for the Polish government just days before Sunday's early parliamentary election, she adds. | Poland secured a guarantee that small groups of countries would be able to delay EU decisions they do not like - a victory for the Polish government just days before Sunday's early parliamentary election, she adds. |
Earlier, Austria reached a deal over its bid to maintain quotas for foreign students, with the European Commission agreeing to suspend for five years its legal action over the country's quota. | Earlier, Austria reached a deal over its bid to maintain quotas for foreign students, with the European Commission agreeing to suspend for five years its legal action over the country's quota. |
Bulgaria also won the right to call the EU single currency the "evro", rather than euro, in its Cyrillic alphabet. | Bulgaria also won the right to call the EU single currency the "evro", rather than euro, in its Cyrillic alphabet. |
The Lisbon Treaty is designed to speed up decision-making in the expanded European Union. It will also create a new president of the European Council, a new EU foreign affairs chief, a reformed voting system and scrap vetoes in dozens of areas. | |
However, the 250-page document has been stripped of any trappings of a super-state, such as the mention of the EU anthem and flag. | However, the 250-page document has been stripped of any trappings of a super-state, such as the mention of the EU anthem and flag. |
It amends, rather than replaces, existing EU treaties, a point which some countries - notably the UK - have argued means there is no need for national referendums on the document. | It amends, rather than replaces, existing EU treaties, a point which some countries - notably the UK - have argued means there is no need for national referendums on the document. |
'Great achievement' | 'Great achievement' |
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said Europe had emerged from an "institutional crisis". | |
Mr Barroso said the treaty was a "great achievement". | Mr Barroso said the treaty was a "great achievement". |
"I believe we have a treaty that will give us now the capacity to act," he said. | "I believe we have a treaty that will give us now the capacity to act," he said. |
"Our citizens want results. They want to see in concrete terms what Europe brings them in their daily lives." | "Our citizens want results. They want to see in concrete terms what Europe brings them in their daily lives." |
Prime Minister Brown said the UK's "red lines", which his government had declared around various policy areas, had been secured. | Prime Minister Brown said the UK's "red lines", which his government had declared around various policy areas, had been secured. |
On Thursday, Mr Brown once again ruled out a referendum on the treaty. | On Thursday, Mr Brown once again ruled out a referendum on the treaty. |
Despite pressure in the UK and several other countries for a popular vote, only Ireland is legally bound to hold a referendum, and most governments will do what they can to avoid another embarrassing failure, our correspondent Oana Lungescu says. | Despite pressure in the UK and several other countries for a popular vote, only Ireland is legally bound to hold a referendum, and most governments will do what they can to avoid another embarrassing failure, our correspondent Oana Lungescu says. |
Previous version
1
Next version