EU-Digest: Get your free copy of the Lisbon Treaty

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RIA Novosti - EU's first president could earn 270,000 euros a year

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EU's first president could earn 270,000 euros a year

The EU's first president could earn 270,000 euros ($427,000) and potential perks include a housing allowance, car and some 22 staff, Belgian media reported on Tuesday. EU ambassadors to Brussels have already started discussing the terms and conditions of the new post, as well as the job description and the proposed role the head of the 27-member organization will have. Suggestions have been made that the post could be purely administrative or the president could act as the organization's fully-fledged envoy. The introduction of the EU president post is part of the Lisbon Treaty, signed late last year, which states the EU president should be elected by European leaders for a term of two and a half years and will represent Europe on the international arena. The Lisbon Treaty is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2009 after ratification by parliaments in all EU member-countries, except Ireland, which is preparing to hold a referendum.

Note EU-Digest: EU Citizens need to be able to elect the President they have, not get someone like Tony Blair shoved into their shoes.

AHN: Bulgaria Ratifies Lisbon Treaty; European Commission Commends Approval - by D.C. Morales

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Bulgaria Ratifies Lisbon Treaty; European Commission Commends Approval - by D.C. Morales

The Bulgarian parliament ratified on Friday the Lisbon Treaty, by a vote of 199-15 with one abstention, becoming the sixth European Union member to adopt the treaty. The five other E.U. members that have approved the Lisbon Treaty are France, Malta, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia. If the other 21 E.U. members will endorse the treaty, it will be enforced in January next year. The Lisbon Treaty was signed by E.U. heads of state last December that have vowed to ratify it before European Parliament elections next year to erase doubts about the region's future direction.

The treaty will streamline the E.U.'s operations by cutting the size of the European Parliament, limiting the use of national vetoes and creating a post of more permanent president and European foreign policy heads. It will make E.U.'s much-needed institutional reforms possible.

IHT: Poland's president wants legal guarantees securing present shape of new EU treaty

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Poland's president wants legal guarantees securing present shape of new EU treaty

Legal guarantees are needed to prevent future changes to the European Union's new treaty, the Polish president said Sunday — marking a sharp contrast with his country's own government. President Lech Kaczynski warned that the treaty should not be ratified until special measures were included in the ratification bill to ensure Poland's sovereignty and prevent future changes to the so-called Lisbon Treaty — which sets out rules for running the EU and replaces a draft EU constitution that was rejected by France and the Netherlands in 2005. Kaczynski had been among the EU treaty's fiercest challengers, which helped Poland win major concessions from fellow EU countries in the final draft. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed that Poland would be among the first of the 27 EU member states to ratify the treaty.

But Kaczynski's comments on Sunday suggest the country's opposition — led by Kaczynski's twin brother and former prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski — is demanding even more assurances.

The News.Pl: EU Reform Treaty ratified by Polish parliament

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EU Reform Treaty ratified by Polish parliament

The results of the vote were: 357 votes for, 55 against, 7 abstentions. Parliament will now pass a bill authorizing the president to sign the ratification of the treaty. Another way of ratifying the treaty provided for in the constitution would be to hold a public referendum. Ratification in parliament was supported by the ruling coalition, consisting of the ruling Civic Platform (PO) and the Peasants' Party (PSL), as well as the opposition Left and the Democrats (LiD).

Treaty of Lisbon signed today: Taking Europe into the 21st Century

EUROPA - Treaty of LisbonFor the complete report from EUROPA click on this link

Treaty of Lisbon signed today: Taking Europe into the 21st Century

The Treaty agreed on by the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States in Lisbon on 18 October 2007 will provide the EU with modern institutions and optimized working methods to tackle both efficiently and effectively today's challenges in today's world. In a rapidly changing world, Europeans look to the EU to address issues such as globalization, climatic and demographic changes, security and energy. The Treaty of Lisbon will reinforce democracy in the EU and its capacity to promote the interests of its citizens on a day-to-day basis.

The Economist: France - Mr Sarkozy secures a whopping 140% pay rise from parliament - French also say Yes on New EU Treaty

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France - Mr Sarkozy secures a whopping 140% pay rise from parliament - French also say Yes on New EU Treaty

Edouard Balladur, a former prime minister heading a special commission, has handed President Nicolas Sarkozy some 77 proposals for constitutional reform. A few would increase presidential powers. One clause would enshrine the president's right to “define the nation's policy” (traditionally the prime minister's job, as the president looks after foreign policy and defence). Another would let him appear before parliament (now forbidden on the ground of separation of powers).

This week, a poll for Le Parisien suggested that, if the French were to vote on the new European treaty, fully 68% would say yes.

Spiegel On-Line: Europe Sets a New Course: EU Leaders Agree on Landmark Treaty

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Europe Sets a New Course: EU Leaders Agree on Landmark Treaty

European Union leaders meeting in the Portugese capital Lisbon have agreed on a landmark treaty to reform the 27-nation bloc. Diplomats announced the agreement in the early hours of Friday morning. The deal was reached shortly after midnight after leaders overcame objections from Italy and Poland.

"With this new treaty, Europe has overcome an impasse that lasted for several years ... and gets ready to face the challenges of the future," Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the host of the two-day summit, said at a news conference.Under the new treaty, a new longer-term president of the European Council will be created, as will an EU foreign policy chief.

AP: EU Leaders Endorse Reform Treaty - by Constant Brand

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EU Leaders Endorse Reform Treaty - by Constant Brand

European Union leaders on Friday agreed on a reform treaty to replace their failed European constitution and give the 27-nation union a more influential say in world affairs, diplomats said. The agreement came after the EU leaders resolved 11th-hour reservations to the treaty draft text by notably Poland and Italy, they said. "With this new treaty, Europe has overcome an impasse that lasted for several years," said Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who hosted the EU summit.

"Europe has emerged stronger from this summit, stronger to face global issues, stronger to take its role in the world and also to increase confidence in our economy and in our citizens," he told reporters.

globeandmail.com: EU reallocates seats over Italy's objections - by Marcin Grajewski

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EU reallocates seats over Italy's objections

The European Parliament approved a new division of seats on Thursday despite protests from Italy, which has threatened to block the rearrangement at an EU summit next week due to approve a new treaty for the bloc.

The redistribution to better reflect the size of populations in the 27-nation European Union is meant to accompany the approval of the reform treaty, which raises the number of MEPs (members of the European Parliament) to 750 from 736 envisaged by the previous treaty. EU leaders need unanimity to adopt the change when they meet in Lisbon on Oct. 18-19.

IHT: EU confident of ending constitution debacle by endorsing alternative this week

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EU confident of ending constitution debacle by endorsing alternative this week

Officials were upbeat Monday that EU leaders would end two years of angst over the speed and direction of European integration this week by endorsing a less ambitious version of the defunct European Constitution. "Our confidence is now greater than before" that the 27 leaders would approve a Reform Treaty at a two-day summit in Lisbon, said Manuel Lobo Antunes, the European Affairs minister of Portugal, the country now holding the EU presidency.

He said EU foreign ministers had discussed last-minute hurdles in "an extremely favorable atmosphere."

The Telegraph: Tony Blair adviser: No need for EU referendum - by Martin Banks

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Tony Blair adviser: No need for EU referendum - by Martin Banks

Tony Blair's former Europe adviser says the UK should accept the European Union reform treaty. The treaty has ignited fierce opposition in Britain because of ignorance, with critics claiming it amounts to a revived version of the old EU Constitution, which was abandoned after being rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands."We trust parliament to take decisions on the death penalty, abortion, euthanasia and going to war. Those who say parliament is not competent to decide this issue should be campaigning for a referendum on the British constitution, not Europe." He pointed out that two-thirds of EU member states had already ratified it.

The MaltaTimes & The Sunday Times: Europe with or without God

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Europe with or without God

For these past four years, Europeans, including, obviously the people of these islands, have been talking and reading quite a lot about the drafters of the European Constitution; These drafters and their associates would do well to refer to the founding fathers of Europe, Alcide De Gasperi from Italy, Robert Schuman from France, and Konrad Adenauer from Germany.

All these causes are at the diocesan level, with only that of Konrad Adenauer at its earliest stage. Chiara Lubich, founder of the very active Focolare movement, and one of the lay auditors at the Synod in Rome, told The Tablet (UK) that with the opening of the three causes, " this project of a united Europe rests upon a rock". She further explained: "I think that the European Union is a design not only of human beings but also of God".

Note EU-Digest: God is omni-present everywhere-if we like it or not. Religious doctrine however can not be part of the political process in a multi-cultural and secular society.

Gulfnews: EU must learn from America - by John O'Sullivan

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EU must learn from America - by John O'Sullivan

Whatever the merits or otherwise of the "comprehensive" immigration reform that foundered in the US Senate last week, its defeat was undeniably a victory for democracy. All the crack regiments of the establishment - the White House, congressional leaders in both Houses, the establishment media from the New York Times to the South Succotash Independent, the "mainstream churches," the major charitable foundations, Corporate America, and Big Labour itself - were solidly in favour of the not-an-amnesty bill.Its opponents were a handful of determined and well-informed legislators, immigration reform groups such as Numbers USA, talk radio hosts including Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, bloggers like Mickey Kaus and Kathryn Lopez of National Review Online, and individual researchers. This was David versus Goliath. David won.America's open debate over immigration demonstrates that the US is a democracy by any standard. The EU's false prospectus, secret deliberations, closed circle of decision-makers, and contempt for the voters make equally clear that "Europe" is anything but a democracy. If it turns out to be merely a ramshackle, bureaucratic, multi-national empire like the Hapsburg one, we'll be lucky.Note EU-Digest: "the author of the article in the Gulf Post is former advisor to Prime Minister Lady Thatcher, is the author of The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister, Regnery 2007, and a member of Benador Associates.

Deutsche Welle: PM Socrates Faces Daunting Task As Portugal Heads EU Presidency

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PM Socrates Faces Daunting Task As Portugal Heads EU Presidency

PM Socrates Faces Daunting Task As Portugal Heads EU Presidency

Germany has handed over the EU presidency to Portugal. For the next six months Premier Jose Socrates, seen as a tough reformer at home, will face the challenge of his career: keeping the EU treaty process on track.

Large countries often find themselves in the awkward position of negotiating EU issues in which their country has strong national interests. Portugal will be able to act more as a neutral broker in the big issues facing Europe.

Bloomberg.com: Poland Celebrates Summit Deal at Home as EU Criticism Grows - by Katya Andrusz

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Poland Celebrates Summit Deal at Home as EU Criticism Grows - by Katya Andrusz

The Polish government is being feted at home after agreeing to a last minute compromise at a summit of European Union leaders on a new governing treaty, while abroad, criticism of its negotiating style is growing. They've more or less sold it to everyone in Poland,'' said Krzysztof Bobinski, director of the Warsaw-based Unia & Polska Foundation research institute, by phone. ``But I don't think this country quite realizes what's going on in the outside world -- the losses that Poland has taken over this whole issue are huge.''

Germany's biggest selling tabloid, Bild, was critical of EU concessions to the Polish government. ``Why is Poland getting extra wurst?'' the paper asked.

Note EU-Digest: the majority of the EU should do everyone a favor and throw out the Polish bums. Who needs them?

A clumsy European Union deal is better than none

Financial Times - Onet.pl Giełda - 25.06.2007

"A clumsy European Union deal is better than none
Financial Times, 25.06.2007
The agreement forged by leaders of the European Union on how to replace their ill-fated constitutional treaty is not a pretty sight. It is littered with declarations and protocols designed to meet the special needs of individual states, above all the UK. The eventual treaty will not be a “simplified treaty”, although it will have abandoned the trappings of a constitution."

EU Leaders Give Themselves Six Months to Map Out Bloc's Future

Bloomberg.com: U.K.

"EU Leaders Give Themselves Six Months to Map Out Bloc's Future

By Kevin Costelloe and Claudia Rach

June 25 (Bloomberg) -- The 27 countries of the European Union gave themselves six months to decide between consensus and the squabbling that almost sank a summit in Brussels.

EU leaders agreed at the Brussels meeting to negotiate by the end of this year a new governing treaty to guide the 50-year- old bloc and any future members. The summit, though, ran into an unscheduled third day and came near to collapse until Poland yielded to pressure to scale back its call for a greater say in EU decisions."

EU-Digest: European Unity the big winner at EU Summit: Kudos to Merkel and Sarkozy for a job well done

Merkel and Sarkozy, Europe's political dream team working hard at Summit

An EU-Digest special news update on the EU Summit

European Unity the big winner at EU Summit: Kudos to Merkel and Sarkozy for a job well done

French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Mrs. Angela Merkel emerged the top negotiators of the EU summit and deserve lots of praise. When pressure needed to be applied on the Poland’s recalcitrant Kaczynski twins, it was Mr. Sarkozy who took charge, personally telephoning Warsaw and even offering to travel to the Polish parliament, the Diet, to explain the new treaty.

All the constitution’s main elements, in particular the permanent EU president and its foreign minister now renamed a “high representative” - have been resurrected. The new EU foreign policy Czar to be called High Representative for European Union Foreign and Security Policy, will chair meetings of EU foreign ministers as well as becoming a vice-president of the European commission. There will also be a universally elected President of the EU. The final deal is consistent with the history of the EU. Europe took another federalist step forward, with governments for the common good giving up some of their sovereignty. The driving force of the EU, the French-German axis, remains not only intact but also very effective, with Mrs. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy now at the helm. An impressive first time performance for Mr. Sarkozy at an EU Summit, and another demonstration of Mrs. Merkels's unique negotiating skills.

Forbes.com: EU SUMMIT Leaders agree deal on new EU treaty after marathon meeting

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EU SUMMIT Leaders agree deal on new EU treaty after marathon meeting

Leaders of the EU finally agreed a deal on a treaty to replace the bloc's failed constitution after a marathon session that went into the early hours of Saturday. After hours of wrangling, agreement was finally reached on the blueprint document to reform EU institutions that will now be carried forward and signed at the end of the year. Negotiations had dragged through the night after a row on voting rights with Poland threatened to scupper the entire deal.

"Poland agreed in principle to the German idea of ‘double majority’ – the rule of approving all decisions in the EU by 55 percent of countries whose population accounts for more than 65 percent of the EU population. Poland has been promised a postponement of the introduction of the new voting system till 2017. Also, Germany succeeded in securing Britain’s consent to the concept of a new agreement. It agreed to the renaming of the office of the EU foreign minister, who from now on will be called the high representative of the European Union. Britain was also given guarantees the charter of fundamental rights mentioned in the treaty would cause no effects on its legal system. The details of the agreement that took nearly 36 hours to finalize have not been disclosed yet, but many European sources say the EU heads of state and government agreed on the mandate of an international conference commissioned to produce the full text of the EU treaty.

Merkel hopes the treaty will be finalized, signed and ratified by June 2009."