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| EU reform treaty passes last test | EU reform treaty passes last test |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, the final step in its ratification. | Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, the final step in its ratification. |
| The treaty was drawn up to streamline decision-making in the EU, and is a watered-down version of a draft EU constitution rejected four years ago. | The treaty was drawn up to streamline decision-making in the EU, and is a watered-down version of a draft EU constitution rejected four years ago. |
| Among its measures, it creates a European Council president and alters the way member states vote. | Among its measures, it creates a European Council president and alters the way member states vote. |
| The treaty could now come into force as early as December. | The treaty could now come into force as early as December. |
| The Lisbon Treaty's supporters say it will allow the EU to operate more efficiently and give it greater influence in world affairs. Critics say it will cede too many national powers to Brussels. | The Lisbon Treaty's supporters say it will allow the EU to operate more efficiently and give it greater influence in world affairs. Critics say it will cede too many national powers to Brussels. |
| LISBON TREATY Creates new post of EU president (President of European Council)New post of high representative for foreign affairsMore decisions by majority vote rather than unanimityOnly Irish Republic held referendum on it - twice ('Yes' vote second time)Took a decade of negotiationsWas intended to take effect in January 2009 Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty Timeline: The road to Lisbon href="/2/hi/europe/7371840.stm">EU president frontrunners class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8339522.stm">UK opposition leader 'disappointed' | |
| Britain's opposition Conservative Party, which has argued the treaty should be put to a referendum, said it would announce its response on Wednesday. | Britain's opposition Conservative Party, which has argued the treaty should be put to a referendum, said it would announce its response on Wednesday. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the ratification, and said it marked the end of years of debate. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the ratification, and said it marked the end of years of debate. |
| "Today is a day when Europe looks forward," he said. | "Today is a day when Europe looks forward," he said. |
| Court bias | Court bias |
| The Czech Republic was the last of the EU's 27 member states to ratify the treaty. | The Czech Republic was the last of the EU's 27 member states to ratify the treaty. |
| Mr Klaus signed it shortly after the Czech constitutional court rejected a complaint against it, ruling that it was in line with the Czech constitution. | Mr Klaus signed it shortly after the Czech constitutional court rejected a complaint against it, ruling that it was in line with the Czech constitution. |
| ANALYSIS Oana Lungescu, BBC European affairs correspondent Diplomats say the treaty, meant to give the EU a stronger voice in the world, is likely to come into force on 1 December. | ANALYSIS Oana Lungescu, BBC European affairs correspondent Diplomats say the treaty, meant to give the EU a stronger voice in the world, is likely to come into force on 1 December. |
| It will create a European diplomatic service and two powerful new jobs - EU leaders are expected to choose a permanent president of the EU Council and a foreign policy chief within days. | It will create a European diplomatic service and two powerful new jobs - EU leaders are expected to choose a permanent president of the EU Council and a foreign policy chief within days. |
| After intense speculation about former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the front-runner to become the first EU Council president is the low-key Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, with the British foreign secretary David Miliband tipped as favourite for the second top job. | After intense speculation about former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the front-runner to become the first EU Council president is the low-key Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, with the British foreign secretary David Miliband tipped as favourite for the second top job. |
| A BBC correspondent says Mr Klaus accused the court of bias and said the Czech Republic was no longer sovereign. | A BBC correspondent says Mr Klaus accused the court of bias and said the Czech Republic was no longer sovereign. |
| The Eurosceptic Czech leader had recently said he would no longer attempt to block the treaty, after receiving the promise of an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | The Eurosceptic Czech leader had recently said he would no longer attempt to block the treaty, after receiving the promise of an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| Mr Klaus said the opt-out was needed to avoid property claims from ethnic Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. | Mr Klaus said the opt-out was needed to avoid property claims from ethnic Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. |
| The Lisbon Treaty replaced an earlier draft constitution that was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands in 2005. | The Lisbon Treaty replaced an earlier draft constitution that was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands in 2005. |
| It would create the post of a new European Council president who would serve a term of two-and-a-half years. | It would create the post of a new European Council president who would serve a term of two-and-a-half years. |
| It also provides for a new foreign policy chief, combining the posts of the existing foreign affairs representative and the external affairs commissioner. | It also provides for a new foreign policy chief, combining the posts of the existing foreign affairs representative and the external affairs commissioner. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said earlier that he hoped the EU could move "as quickly as possible" to make appointments to the new posts. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said earlier that he hoped the EU could move "as quickly as possible" to make appointments to the new posts. |
| Are you in the Czech Republic? Do you support or oppose the signing of the treaty? What is the wider impact for the EU as a whole? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the Czech Republic? Do you support or oppose the signing of the treaty? What is the wider impact for the EU as a whole? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |