Lisbon Treaty Signed

Czech President Vaclav Klaus signed the 2007 EU Lisbon Treaty, on November 3, 2009, thereby making the Treaty effective. Czech Republic was the last EU nation to ratify the Treaty.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125723598758024837.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world

• Klaus opposed the Treaty, and still had many objections to the Treaty, but felt forced to sign the treaty after the Czech Constitutional Court had ruled in favor of the Treaty. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125723598758024837.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world<ref>

• The Lisbon Treaty was agreed upon and signed by the Heads of State of all 27 EU Member States in Lisbon on December 13, 2007. The treaty is an attempt to make the European Union more democratic and streamline its processes. The Treaty amends the current EU and European Commission treaties. http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/news/index_en.htm
• The Treaty was agreed upon in December 2007, but its conception was met with strong resistance. The 2007 Treaty was a re-negotiation of the European Union constitution, which had been turned down by voters in both The Netherlands and France.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4601439.stm
• The Lisbon Treaty was ratified by most countries in 2008, but The Irish rejected the Treaty in a Referendum on June 13, 2008. A second referendum was needed on October 2, 2009. This second referendum resulted in a 'yes' for the treaty.http://www.mahalo.com/ireland-referendum

1. The EU executive will be cut from 27 to 18 members as of 2014
2. The European Parliament will have more power over EU legislation
3. Decision making in 50 policy areas will be decided by a majority rather than a unanimous vote
4. A full time President of the European Council will be established
5. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will become legally binding