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EU treaty adopted in the European Parliament
21.02.2008, 10:14
The EU's lates treaty, which will make EU more democratic, give EU citizens more rights and improve the day-to-day working of the 27-nation bloc was adopted on Wednesday (20 February) by 532 votes in favour, 115 against and 29 abstentions.
Reacting to the vote, Spanish centre-right MEP Inigo Mendez
de Vigo who drew up the report on the treaty for the parliament said he was
"extremely pleased with the result" and spoke of the EU's assembly's
"political impulse" for member states who are currently ratifying the
treaty.
EU communications commissioner Margot Wallstrom said the treaty, formally
signed in December and due to come into place at the beginning of next year
"strengthens Europe's democratic legitimacy".
Some MEPs, mainly British and Danish eurosceptics, protested the vote saying
the treaty was essentially the constitution dress up in different clothes and
that it should be put to a referendum.
Most MEPs responded to this stance by saying that parliamentary ratification is
no less legitimate than a public poll.
Meanwhile Irish MEPs were out in force during the debate, with Ireland under
intense scrutiny across the EU as it is to be the only country to vote on the
treaty in a referendum.
Avril Doyle, centre-right MEP, asked EU officials not to tell Irish voters how
to vote in the referendum, which is expected at the end of May or the beginning
of June.
Source: EUobserver.com