EU Leaders OK New Treaty

Brussels summit ends with hard-won deal to replace failed constitution
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2007 11:48 AM CDT
EU Leaders OK New Treaty
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, center, smiles as he leaves an EU summit in Brussels, Saturday, June 23, 2007. European Union leaders agreed early Saturday on guidelines for drafting a new EU treaty to replace the aborted EU constitution, officials said. The deal came after arduous and acrimonious...   (Associated Press)

EU negotiators pulled an all-nighter and the German chancellor played a risky game of chicken with Poland en route to reaching an agreement on a treaty that will govern the 27-nation body. The deal resurrects much of the ill-fated 2005 constitution while streamlining bureaucracy and introducing a top foreign-policy position intended to beef up the union's worldwide clout.

Germany's Angela Merkel told the BBC the leaders in attendance were "very, very satisfied" with the outcome of the Brussels summit, which ended yesterday. French and Dutch voters cast the EU into turmoil by rejecting the proposed constitution 2 years age; the treaty, which does not require citizen ratification, goes into effect in 2009. (More European Union stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X