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EU leaders agree on reform treaty EU leaders agree on reform treaty
(about 1 hour later)
EU leaders in Brussels have reached agreement on an outline of new rules for the 27-member bloc after two days of tough negotiations. European Union leaders have reached agreement in Brussels on an outline of new rules to govern the 27-member bloc.
Compromise over a new voting system - to which Poland objected - was struck, removing a major obstacle to a deal. At dawn on Saturday they announced a compromise to delay until 2014 a new voting system that reduces Poland's influence - the main stumbling bloc.
Warsaw had rejected previous proposals as giving too much weight to the bloc's larger members, including Germany. Other proposals envisage a long-term president and a foreign affairs head.
The treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in 2005. The new treaty, expected to be finalised later this year, preserves much of the planned EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in 2005.
The leaders emerged from their overnight talks smiling to announce the results. The treaty will need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states, before entering into force in mid-2009.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we have a detailed and clear mandate for an inter-governmental conference" which will draft the actual treaty. EU DEAL: MAIN ISSUES Double majority voting delayed until 2014Long-term EU presidentHigh Representative for foreign affairs Fewer national veto powers More powers for the European Parliament class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6232728.stm">Deal paves way forward
"We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude." Devil in detail
Ms Merkel said it had not been easy but in the end everyone had made concessions. After two years of uncertainty, the road for EU reforms is clear, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.
Double majority And following marathon discussions which were at times on the brink of failure, EU leaders emerged smiling at dawn on Saturday to announce the results.
Having led the negotiations and brokered the compromise, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the current EU president, said: "We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude."
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, paid tribute to Ms Merkel and handed her a bunch of flowers.The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, paid tribute to Ms Merkel and handed her a bunch of flowers.
"This shows that Europe is on the move, and on the move in the right direction.""This shows that Europe is on the move, and on the move in the right direction."
It gives us a chance to concentrate on the issues... that really concern citizens in Europe Tony BlairUK Prime Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6232728.stm">Deal paves way forward Mrs Merkel conceded the talks had been hard - with Poland, the UK and the Netherlands each staunchly defending their interests.
The IGC now has a precise mandate to draft a reform treaty by the end of the year, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. The main obstacle had been Poland's demand to keep its voting power - currently equal to that of Germany's, even though its population is only half as large.
This treaty will then need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states. The new system - known as a "double majority" - will now be phased-in beginning in 2014 and fully implemented three years later.
It will preserve many of the key features of the failed constitution, says our correspondent.
Poland's demands for a radical rethink of the voting system - the summit's main stumbling block - were overcome by a compromise to delay the new system's implementation.
A "double majority" system will be phased-in beginning 2014 and fully implemented three years later.
Under this system, a 55% majority of EU countries with at least 65% of the bloc's population will be required for a change to be approved.Under this system, a 55% majority of EU countries with at least 65% of the bloc's population will be required for a change to be approved.
National control
Britain and the Netherlands also got what they wanted.Britain and the Netherlands also got what they wanted.
Tony Blair was more perky than anyone has a right to be at five in the morning BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mardell's thoughts in full Treaty 'good for UK'Tony Blair was more perky than anyone has a right to be at five in the morning BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mardell's thoughts in full Treaty 'good for UK'
"The four essential things that we in the UK required in order to protect our position have all been obtained," said Tony Blair at the end of his last EU summit as British Prime Minister. "The four essential things that we in the UK required in order to protect our position have all been obtained," said Tony Blair at the end of his last EU summit as British prime minister.
"Those were first of all to make it absolutely clear that the charter on fundamental rights was not going to be justiciable in British courts or alter British law.""Those were first of all to make it absolutely clear that the charter on fundamental rights was not going to be justiciable in British courts or alter British law."
Mr Blair also wanted to maintain national control over foreign policy, justice and home affairs.Mr Blair also wanted to maintain national control over foreign policy, justice and home affairs.
He said the EU would now be able to focus on the issues facing the continent. The Netherlands, too, was satisfied that the role of national parliaments in Europe is to be strengthened and the criteria for new members joining the EU are included in the treaty.
The deal, he said, "gives us a chance to concentrate on the issues to do with the economy, organised crime, terrorism, immigration, defence, climate change, the environment, energy, the problems that really concern citizens in Europe".
The Netherlands too was satisfied that the role of national parliaments in Europe is to be strengthened and the criteria for new members joining the EU are included in the treaty.
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates announced that his government would open the IGC on the treaty in late July, after it takes over the EU's rotating presidency.
The reforms to the EU will be far-reaching, say correspondents.
The treaty will create a full-time president who will lead the Council of Ministers, replacing the current system where members take six-month terms.
There will be a new high representative for foreign affairs and the European Commission will be reduced.
The reforms are considered essential to streamline the running of the bloc, which has increased greatly in size in recent years.