Verhofstadt welcomes final Lisbon Treaty signature (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

Verhofstadt welcomes final Lisbon Treaty signature

November 3, 2009 2:00 PM
Originally published by Andrew Duff MEP

European Liberals and Democrats have welcomed the news that President Vaclav Klaus has finally signed the Czech Republic's ratification of the Lisbon Treaty following the Czech Constitutional court's rejection this morning of the latest appeal designed to block the entry into force of the Treaty.

Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader and former Belgian Prime Minister who launched the latest reform of the EU Treaties in December 2001 in Laeken welcomed the end to the protracted process to bring more transparency, democracy and efficiency to EU decision-making.

"I would never have imagined it would take eight years to reach agreement on the reforms of our structures and working methods necessary to bring Europe closer to its citizens and more responsive to the challenges of a globalised world. The Lisbon Treaty, which now concludes the long process, is more urgent than ever as the pressures of a global economy and climate change have increased dramatically since we started the process under the Belgian Presidency of 2001."

"The Treaty can now enter into force by the beginning of December, if the Council does not delay. In the meantime Member States should act swiftly in nominating their candidates for the new Commission and senior posts envisaged in the new Treaty so that the process of approval can be completed by the end of the year. I appeal to all governments to ensure that their candidates are first and foremost pro-Europeans and committed to the vision of a closer and more united European Union."

Andrew Duff (UK, Lib Dem), ALDE group constitutional affairs spokesperson added:

"The Constitutional Treaty of 2004 was supposed to enter into force in November 2006. Three years and one month later we finally reach the end. Europe can turn the page at long last. The EU is emerging stronger, more efficient and more democratic from this constitutional struggle."

See link below for a copy of the original Laeken Declaration on the future of the European Union:

http://www.ena.lu/laeken-declaration-future-european-union-15-december-2001-020003970.html