It seems as if a deal has been done although that isn't official yet.
The Italians get an extra MEP, and the total number of MEPs is increased by one, so no-one else loses out.
The Poles get something like the protocol they wanted, spelling out that in exceptional cases member states can delay a plan, even if they don't have the full number of votes needed to stop it.
The leaders are now back in a final session to tie all this together.
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I’m Mark Mardell, the 91Èȱ¬'s North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My previous blog, as the 91Èȱ¬â€™s man in Europe, taught me one thing at least: your comments are key. I read them all, so please have your say.
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A "hurrah" from not too farb away, in Lisboa =)
I know it's not a comment about "the deal" but it might interest the EU-phobes to know that the European Commission, often described as a bloated bureaucracy, has about the same number of staff as the 91Èȱ¬. Of those about one third are support staff and one third linguists leaving the core work to be done by about 8 000 people.
Splendid! Finally, we have a new treaty. I'm glad we can now move on, and make the EU stronger and better place to live. I applaud Mr Gordon Brown's committment to sign the Lisbon Treaty, and safeguard the British national interest. And indeed, the British national interest *is* safe. Good job he refused to hold a referndum, because the British - just like any other nation - are easily misled by their own newspapers (whose editors have different agendas). It made me sick, when I looked at the second page of 'The Sun' today. The misleading headline screams at the readers announcing that if the Prime Minister signs that treaty, then Britain will be OBLIGED to give up some of its oil rigs for the sake of the EU (the 'political' editor even suggested it will cost over £6 billion to British taxpayers). I mean, Jeesus, goddamit, what an absolute, absolute nonsense! I literally washed my hands under the tap after touching 'The Sun'. But imagine what effect such a headline produces upon unsuspecting British public (who, unlike me or you, didn't study political science). The people think, 'Oh my God, the EU is evil, the EU is bad', and if asked to come to the polls, they most certainly would do irreperable damage to the British national interest without ever suspecting it.
Looks like another object lesson in how democracy works.
A government that only represents a third of the people agrees a treaty that affects us all. A promised referendum is disposed of by some clever wording.
The only major problem with the EU is that it clearly demonstrates that democracy has nothing to do with people, something we in the UK should have no problem understanding.
Here's a tip for all those politicians who want to bring trust and respect back to the political arena. Say something, deliver on it.
The sad thing is that some of our armed forces are out there, risking life and limb, bringing democracy to far-flung parts of the world. Here's the truth of it, our democracy gives us the right to vote and be ignored. So the major difference between what we have and a dictatorship would be the right to vote. That doesn't seem like something worth dying for!
What a pity!
For all of us who are studying to become a EU staff (all the old documents, treaties will change).
There'll be new books ready to be studied, everthing will changed again every 5 years: Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and now Lisbon....
I am really amazed and disappointed about all these changes and about EU treaties.
Corina
In Britain's best interests claims the sainted one.
If this is true why has he betrayed the public over the promised referendum rather than justifying his position during the debate.
He is allowed a free ride to spout this rubbish at every interview.Why do we not have a journalist with the guts to tell him to his face that he is either a lying or else he is accusing all the other leaders of Europe of being liars because they all admit the treaty is virtually identical to the constitution.
The biggest act of treason since Guy Fox ( or maybe Ted Heath).