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News item | 14-12-2007
On 13 December 2007, heads of state and government and foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries put their signatures to the Treaty of Lisbon.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime
Verhagen signed on behalf of the Netherlands at the ceremony in Lisbon. European leaders had
already approved the text of the Treaty on 19 October 2007.
The Treaty of Lisbon will enter into force as soon as all 27 member states have ratified it. They have set 1 January 2009 as their target date for the agreement to come into effect.
The Treaty is intended to make a Union of 27 countries more manageable, democratic and effective in those areas where cooperation is necessary.
As the Treaty of Lisbon is an amending treaty, the normal ratification procedure will be followed. This means that the Treaty will be submitted to Parliament for approval.
14-12-2007