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News item | 22-10-2007
European heads of government adopted the text of the Reform Treaty on 19 October. 'We can now focus on the future,' said Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
The heads of state and government of the 27 EU countries will sign the treaty on 13 December 2007 at a special ceremony in Lisbon.
Provided that all the member states have ratified it, the treaty will enter into force on 1 January 2009. The Reform Treaty is designed to make the enlarged European Union more manageable, more democratic and more effective in those areas where cooperation is necessary.
On 23 June 2007 the heads of government reached an outline agreement on a new European treaty. The agreement was then translated into a formal text, which was approved by the EU leaders at the Informal European Council in Lisbon.
Prime Minister Balkenende has expressed his satisfaction about the outcome of the talks. The new document 'does justice to the concerns of the Dutch people that emerged during the referendum'. Balkenende stressed that 'other countries went out of their way to meet Dutch wishes'.
'National parliaments will have more control over the EU. The Union's powers are more clearly defined. Issues that have to be addressed collectively will be dealt with in the EU. Issues that the Dutch are better equipped to handle themselves - like pensions, education and housing policy - will be dealt with in the Netherlands. The criteria for enlargement are also enshrined in the new treaty.'
The idea of an EU Constitution is gone for good. The various agreements that have been made will be reflected in a regular treaty, which can be submitted directly to parliament for approval, according to the Council of State, the Dutch government, and a majority of the House of Representatives.
The agreements reached in Lisbon comply with the mandate drawn up in June. Only one new agreement was added: in the future the European Parliament will have 751 seats instead of 750.
At the request of the Polish delegation to the European Council in June, extra safeguards were introduced for the future decision-making process. These safeguards took the form of a declaration and a protocol to the treaty.
Apart from the treaty, the European Council has proposed appointing three additional advocates-general. One of them will be from Poland; the two other positions will be filled on a rotating basis by the countries with no permanent representative on the European Court of Justice.
The heads of state and government also settled a practical issue surrounding the procedure for the appointment of the High Representative for external relations. The European Parliament will be consulted about the appointment of the Representative, who is also Vice President of the European Commission. The formal appointment will not take place until 2009, after the next elections for the European Parliament.
With the support of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic succeeded in clarifying an agreement on abolishing European policy that has outlived its usefulness and does little more than create more red tape.
'This [agreement] brings a long period of debate to a close. But in the end, Europe has emerged stronger,' said Balkenende.
'We can now focus on the future, and this is necessary too. We need to work together to tackle issues like climate change, counterterrorism and the economy.'