For a number of years, EU politicians and officials have discussed, debated and adjusted to get the paragraphs in place. The Treaty of Lisbon has, to say the least, a long journey behind it, but today the European Union’s institutional perplexity is over. The Lisbon Treaty has entered into force and Prime Minister Reinfeldt is in Lisbon to celebrate the historic event. In his address he speaks of a new era for the EU. An era of greater transparency, efficiency and citizen influence.

Two years ago the EU heads of state and government met in Lisbon and signed what would become the Treaty of Lisbon. So it seems appropriate to return to the place where it all started, now that the Treaty, after many twists and turns, has been realised. Portugal, together with the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission, has organised a ceremony to celebrate the Treaty’s entry into force.

A number of European leaders are there. Among them are President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the incoming permanent President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero of Spain, which will take over the rotating Presidency in the new year, and Portugal’s Prime Minister José Sócrates and President Aníbal Cavaco Silva. They all held speeches at the ceremony.

European Parliament more prominent
In his address, Fredrik Reinfeldt highlighted the greater transparency and efficiency brought by the Lisbon Treaty. As the EU has grown from the original group of six Member States, the need for new frameworks has also grown. After the enlargements of recent years, there are now so many Member States that a new regulatory framework is required to prevent EU cooperation becoming too unwieldy. With the Lisbon Treaty, both the European Parliament and the parliaments in the Union’s 27 Member States gain greater influence over EU politics. The principle of public access is extended to apply to all the EU’s institutions and bodies, the decision making process is simplified and further enlargement of the EU is made possible.

“Today marks a new page in the history of European cooperation. We turn the page towards a better functioning, more transparent and modernised European Union. We turn the page towards a European Union that can better cope with the challenges ahead of us. An we turn a page away from the institutional uncertainty that has set the European agenda for too long”, said Fredrik Reinfeldt in his speech.

Read the full speech via the link on the right.