European leaders sign Lisbon Treaty
{{date|December 13, 2007}}
[[Image:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (10).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Leaders from European Union countries gather for official photo. {{Image source|1=[http://www.prezydent.pl/x.node?id=4542760&fotoserviceId=10000212 Archiwum Kancelarii Prezydenta RP]}}]]
Today, leaders from the nations of the [[European Union]] signed the landmark {{w|Reform Treaty|Treaty of Lisbon}} which is to redefine foreign policy for the EU and creates an EU president. The treaty is a replacement for the {{w|Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe}} which was abandoned after suffering defeats in referendums in [[France]] and the [[Netherlands]].

"From this old continent, a new Europe is born," said {{w|European Commission}} President {{w|José Manuel Barroso}}. "For the first time, the countries that were once divided by a totalitarian curtain, are now united in support of a common treaty that they had themselves negotiated."

The President of [[France]], [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] said to reporters: "Europe was blocked, without knowing how to move forward and we found the solution with this treaty."

[[United Kingdom]] Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] did not attend, and [[David Miliband]] signed the treaty in his stead. "This is a day for Europe to look to the future.," Miliband said.
[[Image:Reform treaty.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Reform Treaty documents.]]
Citing prior obligations for his failure to be in {{w|Lisbon}}, Brown added his signature later after appearing before the House of Commons {{w|Liaison Committee}} in the morning. Critics have claimed he does "not have the guts" to sign and is trying to avoid the political liability of having his name on the document.

Speaking at the ceremony, [[Portugal|Portuguese]] Prime Minister {{w|José Sócrates}} said, "This was the European project that many generations dreamt of and others before us championed, with a vision of the future."

From here, each country will have to {{w|ratification|ratify}} the treaty. Most countries will probably not hold {{w|referendum|referendums}} on the treaty as voters would be likely to reject the treaty; some leaders have committed to hold referendums, but are attempting to avoid doing so for similar reasons.
{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
{{sisters
|Treaty of Lisbon
|commons|Category:Treaty of Lisbon
}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7141651.stm
|title=EU leaders sign landmark treaty
|author=|pub=BBC News Online
|date=December 13, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL182769520071213
|title=EU leaders sign Lisbon Treaty to reform bloc
|author=Axel Brugge
|pub=Reuters
|date=December 13, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1922&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
|title=Commission welcomes signature of the Treaty of Lisbon and calls for its swift ratification
|pub=European Commission
|date=December 13, 2007}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:European Union]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:David Miliband]]
[[Category:European Commission]]
[[Category:Lisbon]]
[[Category:Portugal]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Nicolas Sarkozy]]
[[Category:Gordon Brown]]
[[Category:Treaty of Lisbon]]

[[es:Líderes europeos firman el Tratado de Lisboa]]
[[pl:Ceremonia podpisania Traktatu Reformującego UE]]
[[pt:Assinado o Tratado de Reforma institucional da União Européia]]
Leaders from European Union countries gather for official photo. 
Today, leaders from the nations of the European Union signed the landmark Treaty of Lisbon which is to redefine foreign policy for the EU and creates an EU president. The treaty is a replacement for the  which was abandoned after suffering defeats in referendums in France and the Netherlands.

"From this old continent, a new Europe is born," said José Manuel Barroso. "For the first time, the countries that were once divided by a totalitarian curtain, are now united in support of a common treaty that they had themselves negotiated."

The President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy said to reporters: "Europe was blocked, without knowing how to move forward and we found the solution with this treaty."

United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown did not attend, and David Miliband signed the treaty in his stead. "This is a day for Europe to look to the future.," Miliband said.
Reform Treaty documents.
Citing prior obligations for his failure to be in Liaison Committee in the morning. Critics have claimed he does "not have the guts" to sign and is trying to avoid the political liability of having his name on the document.

Speaking at the ceremony, Portuguese Prime Minister  said, "This was the European project that many generations dreamt of and others before us championed, with a vision of the future."

From here, each country will have to ratify the treaty. Most countries will probably not hold referendums on the treaty as voters would be likely to reject the treaty; some leaders have committed to hold referendums, but are attempting to avoid doing so for similar reasons.


es:Líderes europeos firman el Tratado de Lisboa
pl:Ceremonia podpisania Traktatu Reformującego UE
Assinado o Tratado de Reforma institucional da União Européia
Europe European Union Crime and law Politics and conflicts David Miliband European Commission Lisbon Portugal France United Kingdom Nicolas Sarkozy Gordon Brown Treaty of Lisbon