Q&A: European Union Reform Treaty
Updated on 13 December 2007
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will today sign the controversial European Union Reform Treaty, arriving in Lisbon after the official signing has taken place.
What is the treaty?
It replaces the failed EU constitution, but encompasses a number of opt-outs for the UK, negotiated by Tony Blair in June.
What are these opt-outs?
These so-called "red lines" are designed to protect the UK's national sovereignty against automatic inclusion in deals on social policy, judicial and police issues, foreign and defence policy and social security matters.
What changes will the treaty's introduction bring?
There will be a permanent president with a two-and-a-half year term, replacing the current six-month rotation system. There will also be an elected foreign affairs representative, a reduction in the number of commissioners and new legal authority for the EU, allowing it to sign international treaties.
'What I'm going to do is call for Europe to show some global leadership.'Gorodn Brown
When will the treaty come into effect?
January 1 2009.
What do MPs say?
Labour MPs have that the government has failed to persuade the public that the Lisbon Treaty is different from the old constitution, on which Labour promised a referendum.
The Conservatives say the treaty is essentially the same as the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, and will mean the loss of dozens of British vetoes and the transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels.
What does Brown say?
"What I'm going to say to Europe is stop looking inwards; stop looking at constitutions or semi-constitutions or institutions for a long time ahead and for the foreseeable future concentrate on the big issues ahead of us. What I'm going to do is call for Europe to show some global leadership."
Why won't Gordon Brown be at the televised signing?
A commitment to appear before a senior Commons committee this morning means he will arrive late and put his name to the treaty on his own before talks with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates, the current EU president.
Will any of the member states hold a referendum on the treaty?
So far, only Ireland, which is constitutionally bound to do so. The other 26 EU states are expected to ratify the treaty through their parliaments over the course of next year.
