"A great success for European Parliament, a victory for the European Union and for all citizens". That’s how Hans-Gert Poettering responded to the Lisbon Agreement on the EU Treaty. "It’s really a great result he goes on on a matter which is crucial to the future of the EU and one which Parliament made its priority". With this agreement, the Assembly "gains the power of joint decision on a large part of the EU legislation and sees its political weight substantially strengthened". In addition, Poettering emphasises the importance of the acknowledgement of the legally binding value of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. "This a truly significant step for he citizens": the Charter will be officially proclaimed by the presidents of the EU Council, Parliament and Commission in Strasbourg on December 12th, "the day before the signing of the Treaty". Poettering acknowledges the new distribution of the seats, comments some acquisitions of the Treaty, expresses reservations on the opt-out proviso granted to Great Britain, and concludes by saying that he is "confident that the new Treaty will be enforced before the European election of 2009".
