EU Lisbon Treaty Enters into Force
Bulgaria in EU | December 1, 2009, Tuesday
EC President Barroso and Swedish Presidency Chair Reinfeldt will be among the guests of the formal ceremony for the entering into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Photo by EPA/BGNES
The EU Reform Treaty, or as it is famous, the Lisbon Treaty is entering into force Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
The event will be marked with a special ceremony in the Portuguese capital Lisbon in the presence of EU’s first President, Herman van Rompuy, the first High Representative on Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton, the EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, the EP President, Jerzy Buzek, the head of the rotating EU Presidency and PM of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt.
The Lisbon Treaty was singed on December 13, 2007, and its ratification took almost two years, including the staging of two referendums in Ireland. After the last EU member, the Czech Republic, ratified it in November 2009, the Treaty was deposited with the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome.
The Lisbon Treaty increases the qualified majority voting fields in the EU including the removal of national vetoes in a number of areas such as the fight against climate change, energy security and emergency aid. Unanimity remains in tax, foreign policy, defense and social security.
The newly-introduced position of EU President includes a 2,5-year-term. The opportunity for leaving the EU is also stipulated in the Lisbon Treaty.
Tags: Lisbon Treaty, EU
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