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| EU heads to sign landmark treaty | EU heads to sign landmark treaty |
| (10 minutes 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. |
| KEY LISBON TREATY REFORMS Creats new European Council presidentNew foreign policy supremo to increase EU profileCommissioners reduced from 27 to 18 Removes national vetoes in around 50 policy areasVoting weights between member states redistributedNo reference to EU symbols such as the flag and anthemTreaty faces referendum in Ireland and must be ratified by all other EU parliaments Q&A: Lisbon TreatyMark Mardell's Euroblog 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. | |
| 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. |
| SIGNING TIMETABLE 1130 GMT: start of ceremony1145 GMT: European Commission president's speech1200-1300 GMT: signing by EU heads of state and foreign ministers1315: official photo1325: leave monastery for lunch 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. | SIGNING TIMETABLE 1130 GMT: start of ceremony1145 GMT: European Commission president's speech1200-1300 GMT: signing by EU heads of state and foreign ministers1315: official photo1325: leave monastery for lunch 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 a foreign policy chief, controlling a big budget and thousands of diplomats and officials, and a permanent EU president appointed for up to five years. | There will also be a foreign policy chief, controlling a big budget and thousands of diplomats and officials, and a 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. | 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. |