EU moves forward with signing of new Treaty
The EU has marked an important step in European integration with the 27 Member States of the European Union signing the
new Treaty of Lisbon yesterday, 13 December 2007.
Ambassador of the European Commission Delegation to New Zealand, Bruno Julien, said, "This is the start of a new phase
in responding to the challenges of the 21st century."
"The Treaty of Lisbon further unites the countries of the European Union and gives the EU a more powerful and lasting
foreign policy voice."
"The new Treaty will adopt the institutions to an enlarged and more democratic and efficient Union. There will be one
single President of the European Council elected for two and a half years who will represent the European Union
externally. This will give more continuity and stability to the EU, which will help in our foreign policies including
furthering relations with third countries like Australia and New Zealand," Ambassador Julien said.
The Treaty provides significant new benefits for European citizens and will allow for a greater emphasis on the issues
of concern to citizens such as jobs and growth, energy and climate change and migration.
President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso said, "This treaty marks a watershed in the history of
European integration. The Treaty of Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. After six long years of
negotiation we can put institutional issues aside and concentrate all our energy on delivering policy achievements for
our citizens. I call on the Member States to honour their commitments and seek to ratify the Treaty in good time for its
entry into force on 1 January 2009".
The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It will provide the Union with the
legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.
ENDS