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The Lisbon Treaty comes in force on 1 December
2009
The Lisbon Treaty in 50
words:
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Simpler rules for decision-making with
majority-voting in most policy areas
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Greater role for the
European Parliament and the Member State
Parliaments
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More involvement for the European citizens,
more openness
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Legally binding Charter
of Fundamental Rights
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New permanent President
of the European Council
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New High Representative for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy and new foreign service
KUALA LUMPUR, November 26 – On 1 December the
European Union’s new Treaty will enter force.The
new Treaty, commonly known as the “Lisbon Treaty”,
will bring about more simplified decision making
for the EU. This will enable the European Union to
respond faster and in a more efficient way, also
with an increased number of member states. The
Treaty also clarifies the responsibilities between
the European and national levels, the “who does
what”.
"The EU has grown from the
initial 6 countries in 1957 to 27 nations today;
more countries will join in the coming years. This
made it important to simplify our decision-making
rules," said H.E. Helena Sangeland, Ambassador of
Sweden to Malaysia, who is currently holding the
European Union Presidency.
"The new Treaty also
strengthens the rights of the European citizens,
through an increased role for the European
Parliament and through scrutiny rights for the
national parliaments.
The EU citizens will also
have a more prominent voice in EU policies," said
Ambassador Sangeland.
According to H.E Vincent
Piket, Ambassador and Head of the European
Commission Delegation to Malaysia, the Lisbon
Treaty opens a new chapter in the process of
European integration. “The Treaty aims to increase
the efficiency and transparency of Europe. It also
promotes an EU single voice in global affairs and
coherence between our internal and external
policies."
Ambassador Piket explains
that the EU is currently faced with the challenges
of the 21st century such as sustainable
development, climate change, energy security, and
cross border crime and security in general. “All
these new factors have altered the way in which
the EU should be managed. The Lisbon Treaty
provides an answer.“
The new Treaty also ushers in new elements in the
EU’s internal organisation. From now on, the EU
will have a permanent President, appointed for a
2.5 years’ term, renewable once. The first EU
President will be Herman Van Rompuy, presently
Prime-Minister of Belgium.
The Treaty also creates the
post of High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The High
Representative will head a new European External
Action Service, which will be the Union’s
equivalent to the foreign ministry of a sovereign
country. The first EU High Representative will be
Catherine Ashton, currently European Commissioner
for Trade.
"The new High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be a
key interlocutor for the Union's partners abroad,
including Malaysia. She will conduct the European
Union's common foreign and security policy and
represent the EU in international platforms. The
High Representative will increase our visibility
in the international scene and help our
counterparts worldwide to identify their
interlocutor," said Ambassador Piket.
The new Treaty also legally
binds the values of EU; human dignity, freedom,
democracy, equality, solidarity, the rule of law
and respect for human rights.
For further information on the Lisbon treaty :
http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/index_en.htm
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Jointly released by the European Commission
Delegation to Malaysia and Swedish Embassy to
Malaysia. For further information, please contact
Josephine Dionisappu (European Commission) at
03-2723 7373 or at
delegation-malaysia-press@ec.europa.eu
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