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First MS to ratify the new EU treaty
18.12.2007, 10:28
On 17th December, just few days after the document was formally signed off by EU leaders in a formal ceremony in Lisbon, Hungary ratified the new EU treaty as the first of the 27 member
states.
A parliamentary vote saw 325 votes in favour, 5 votes against and 14
abstentions for the new set of rules, according to Austrian news agency
APA.
Reacting to the vote, Hungary's prime minister praised the "historic achievement" of his country.
In taking the ratification step so quickly, Budapest has stolen the
crown from Poland and France, both of whom had indicated they were
aiming to be the first.
The new EU treaty takes on most of the features of the rejected
European constitution, including a foreign policy chief, a long-term
president of the EU, a binding citizens rights charter as well as
cutting down on the areas where member states have a right to veto.
Each member state has to ratify the treaty for it to come into force, with governments aiming to get it in place by early 2009.
Ireland is the only country to have a referendum on the document, while
the British government is undergoing strong pressure from opposition
conservatives to hold a popular vote.
Source: EUobserver.com