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| EU heads to sign landmark treaty | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| EU leaders are preparing to sign a treaty in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, that will greatly alter the way members govern themselves. | EU leaders are preparing to sign a treaty in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, that will greatly alter the way members govern themselves. |
| The treaty creates an EU president and a vastly more powerful foreign policy chief for the Union's 27 nations. | The treaty creates an EU president and a vastly more powerful foreign policy chief for the Union's 27 nations. |
| At the same time the document scraps veto powers in many policy areas. | At the same time the document scraps veto powers in many policy areas. |
| It is a replacement for the EU constitution abandoned following French and Dutch opposition. EU leaders insist the two texts are in no way equivalent. | It is a replacement for the EU constitution abandoned following French and Dutch opposition. EU leaders insist the two texts are in no way equivalent. |
| But the Lisbon treaty incorporates some of the draft constitution's key reforms, and several governments face domestic pressure over the document. | But the Lisbon treaty incorporates some of the draft constitution's key reforms, and several governments face domestic pressure over the document. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has chosen not to attend the ceremony, citing a prior engagement in the British parliament. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has chosen not to attend the ceremony, citing a prior engagement in the British parliament. |
| However, he will sign the treaty separately, later on Thursday. | However, he will sign the treaty separately, later on Thursday. |
| The UK's opposition Conservatives accused Mr Brown of "not having the guts" to sign the treaty, which is politically controversial in Britain, in public. | The UK's opposition Conservatives accused Mr Brown of "not having the guts" to sign the treaty, which is politically controversial in Britain, in public. |
| Mid-life crisis | Mid-life crisis |
| Having started this year with a celebration of its 50th birthday, the EU hopes the signing of the Lisbon treaty will end the serious mid-life crisis brought about by the death of the constitution, the BBC's Oana Lungescu reports. | Having started this year with a celebration of its 50th birthday, the EU hopes the signing of the Lisbon treaty will end the serious mid-life crisis brought about by the death of the constitution, the BBC's Oana Lungescu reports. |
| There will be a lot of relief, said a senior European diplomat, but also some apprehension about what happens next. | There will be a lot of relief, said a senior European diplomat, but also some apprehension about what happens next. |
| Ireland is the only country planning to hold a referendum, but most voters there seem either undecided or indifferent. | Ireland is the only country planning to hold a referendum, but most voters there seem either undecided or indifferent. |
| Parliaments in Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark are also expected to give a turbulent reception to the 250-page text. | Parliaments in Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark are also expected to give a turbulent reception to the 250-page text. |
| However, Germany, France and Poland have pledged to be among the first to ratify it, so that the new reforms can come into force in 2009 as planned. | However, Germany, France and Poland have pledged to be among the first to ratify it, so that the new reforms can come into force in 2009 as planned. |
| Slimmed-down | Slimmed-down |
| The treaty is a slimmed-down version of the European constitution, with a more modest name and without any reference to EU symbols such as the flag and anthem. | The treaty is a slimmed-down version of the European constitution, with a more modest name and without any reference to EU symbols such as the flag and anthem. |
| It is meant to ease decision-making, by scrapping national vetoes in some 50 policy areas, including sensitive ones such as police and judicial co-operation. | It is meant to ease decision-making, by scrapping national vetoes in some 50 policy areas, including sensitive ones such as police and judicial co-operation. |
| There will also be the foreign policy chief, controlling a big budget and thousands of diplomats and officials, and the permanent EU president appointed for up to five years. | There will also be the foreign policy chief, controlling a big budget and thousands of diplomats and officials, and the permanent EU president appointed for up to five years. |
| But some already fear that instead of giving Europe a strong single voice in the world, the new posts will only generate more rivalry, our correspondent adds. |