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EU Leaders Sign New Treaty

But some clamor for referendum

By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 13, 2007 9:58 AM CST
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(Newser) – Two years after the French and Dutch rejected the European Constitution, leaders of the 27 EU nations are signing the new Treaty of Lisbon today, aimed to strengthen union decision-making. Unlike the previous document, this one does not require nation-by-nation referendums to be ratified. That's caused a tremendous political headache for Gordon Brown, who no-showed today's photo opportunity, to the consternation of EU bigwigs, says AFP.

Only Ireland is offering a referendum to its citizens, and only because it is constitutionally obligated to do so. The new treaty drops quasi-national elements of the constitution, such as an EU anthem and flag, but retains a permanent EU president, rather than the current rotating leadership, and a foreign policy chief. It trims the number of decisions that  require unanimous support, reducing national vetoes.

Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, left, and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, right, sign the EU's Lisbon Treaty during a ceremony in Lisbon, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The Lisbon Treaty, endorsed by the EU's 27 leaders two months ago after years of unease among Europeans about how much sovereignty they should...
Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, left, and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, right, sign the EU's Lisbon Treaty during a ceremony in Lisbon, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The Lisbon Treaty, endorsed...   (Associated Press)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel signs the EU's Treaty of Lisbon during a ceremony Thursday, Dec. 13 2007, at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.(AP Photo/Armando Franca)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel signs the EU's Treaty of Lisbon during a ceremony Thursday, Dec. 13 2007, at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.(AP Photo/Armando Franca)   (Associated Press)
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, left, shakes hands with Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema after signing the EU's Lisbon Treaty during a ceremony in Lisbon, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The Lisbon Treaty, endorsed by the EU's 27 leaders two months ago after years of unease among Europeans about how much sovereignty...
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, left, shakes hands with Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema after signing the EU's Lisbon Treaty during a ceremony in Lisbon, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. The Lisbon Treaty,...   (Associated Press)
A cameraman films some mock road signs, near the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. As European Union leaders on Thursday signed a new treaty they said allows them to react more promptly to global issues by changing the way their bloc is run, protesters demanded a...
A cameraman films some mock road signs, near the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. As European Union leaders on Thursday signed a new treaty they said allows them to react...   (Associated Press)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown appears before the House of Commons liaison committee in London before traveling to Lisbon to sign the controversial European Union Reform Treaty, which replaces the failed EU constitution in this image taken from television Thursday Dec. 13, 2007. Brown faced questioning Thursday on a series...
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown appears before the House of Commons liaison committee in London before traveling to Lisbon to sign the controversial European Union Reform Treaty, which replaces the...   (Associated Press)
An usher, top, attempts to remove a banner saying 'referendum' held by European deputies Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Euroskeptic lawmakers disrupted the signing of the European Union's new fundamental rights charter Wednesday, demanding a referendum on the document that will become legally...
An usher, top, attempts to remove a banner saying 'referendum' held by European deputies Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Euroskeptic lawmakers disrupted...   (Associated Press)
Leaders of the European Union countries pose for a group photo outside Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery after signing the EU's Treaty of Lisbon Thursday, Dec. 13 2007. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Leaders of the European Union countries pose for a group photo outside Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery after signing the EU's Treaty of Lisbon Thursday, Dec. 13 2007. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)   (Associated Press)
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, shares a laugh with German Chancellor Angela Merkel while walking for a group photo outside Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery, after signing the EU's Treaty of Lisbon Thursday, Dec. 13 2007. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, shares a laugh with German Chancellor Angela Merkel while walking for a group photo outside Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery, after signing the EU's...   (Associated Press)
Portuguese Prime-Minister Jose Socrates speaks prior to signing the EU's Treaty of Lisbon during a ceremony Thursday, Dec. 13 2007, at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.(AP Photo/Lusa, Antonio Cotrim)
Portuguese Prime-Minister Jose Socrates speaks prior to signing the EU's Treaty of Lisbon during a ceremony Thursday, Dec. 13 2007, at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.(AP Photo/Lusa, Antonio...   (Associated Press)
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Main features of the Treaty of Lisbon
Associated Press

Comment: Brown's disgraceful no-show
Guardian (UK)

 
European Union • Gordon Brown • Anders Fogh Rasmussen • Treaty of Lisbon

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