More effective and democratic

“The Treaty of Lisbon is for a more modern, more effective and more democratic Europe. It “does not conflict with what is specific to each nation, but provides a framework of shared rules”, declared JOSÉ SOCRATES , Portuguese premier and acting President of the EU Council, on receiving the heads of State and of government of the 27 in the Portuguese capital on Thursday 13 December for the signing of the new EU Treaty. The document will now have to be ratified by the member countries before entering into force in 2009. REFORM TREATY SIGNED IN LISBON. During his speech, delivered against the backdrop of the ancient Monastery of Geronimo, Socrates said. “We are here today to advance the European project. This Treaty contains the founding values of the Community, the same that had inspired the founding fathers”: solidarity, peace, democracy, human rights, economic development, openness to the world. “We want to take forward this project, conscious as we are that a stronger Europe is needed today to respond to the new challenges”. The Portuguese politician recalled the main contents of the Treaty, the institutional reforms that it prescribes. He pointed out that “with the Treaty of Lisbon the EU overcomes a long impasse that had limited its capacity for action, to the detriment of European citizens”. Moreover, the legally binding text “gives foundation to citizenship; it also incorporates, and confers juridical value on, the Charter of Fundamental Rights that we proclaimed in Strasbourg”. At the end of other official speeches, Europe’s political leaders signed the Treaty, and confirmed they would re-assemble for the meeting of the EU Council in Brussels on 14 December. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INVITES THE POPE AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS. This week the European Parliament hosted several important events. The agenda included the debate and vote on the EU budget for 2008, provisions to control the flooding of Chinese textile products on European markets, and the reform of the viticulture and wine-producing sector. During the session the heads of the political groups in the EP unanimously decided to invite various religious leaders and political personalities to address the Parliament in 2008, the year that the EU will dedicate to inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. The guest speakers will include Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lana, the Grand Mufti of Damascus Ahmad Badrebbine Hassoun (who will be the first to address the Parliament in January), Israeli President Shimon Peres and the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Another event during the week was the arrival at the seat of the Parliament of the “torch of peace”, which had begun its journey in Bethlehem. Carried by young scouts of various religions – Jewish, Christian and Moslem -, the torch will now continue its journey through all the countries of the EU. PROCLAMATION OF THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS. The chamber was also the theatre of the solemn proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU on Wednesday, 12 December. “The Charter demonstrates that with European integration there is greater respect for man and for his freedom”, declared HANS-GERT POETTERING , President of the EP, at the start of the ceremony. Official speeches were also given by President of the Council Socrates and President of the Commission Barroso. Both added their signatures alongside that of Poettering at the foot of the Charter, the text of which was defined in Nice eight years ago and now assumes legally binding value, annexed as it is to the Reform Treaty. According to the German politician, “man and his dignity are at the centre of our common policy” and “only the enunciation of rights can assure a certain future to our citizens and peace for everyone”. “Recognizing the binding value of the Charter is a step that cannot be divorced from the Treaty’s process of reform”. Poettering explained that “the Charter represents a complete catalogue of rights for which the citizens of the Union will be able to appeal” to the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Lastly, Poettering urged that “the Charter come into force as soon as possible in all member states”, a reference to the opt-out clause requested and obtained by the UK and Poland. “PROMOTING CITIZENS’ INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS. “The 12th of December will remain an historic date for European integration”, declared José Socrates, President of the European Council. In his speech during the proclamation of the Charter, he recalled that the EU “is at the service of citizens, and promotes their dignity, and their individual and social rights”, including health, work, and the protection of the environment. “This – he added – is the Charter of equality and of solidarity. It confirms that the EU takes to heart the rights of children and youth, and the care of the elderly. It is a Europe that rejects any form of discrimination, and defends political and economic liberties, as it has done in fifty years of our common history”. During the ceremony in the EP, a group of euro-sceptics, of the far right and also a part of the left, staged a protest, calling for a European referendum for the direct approval of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaty of Lisbon by the people of Europe.