By Martin Banks - 24th June 2007
MEPs have generally welcomed the revamped treaty eventually hammered out by EU leaders in the early hours of Saturday.
Agreement was reached after marathon talks only after Poland and Britain won key concessions.
Under pressure from Warsaw, a streamlined voting system was delayed until 2017, while the UK was successful in its efforts to secure an opt-out in foreign policy and on the charter of fundamental rights.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy was seen as a clear-cut winner after securing the elimination of “free and undistorted competition” from the list of EU objectives enshrined in the treaty.
He is also credited with having helped break down the resistance of Poland's unyielding idential-twin leaders.
Parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering was among the first to react to the results of the summit.
He welcomed the outcome as an “important step” towards necessary reform of the EU.
“This compromise makes possible the reforms necessary for more democracy and efficiency in the EU.
“On this basis, the new treaty will reinforce significantly the European parliament and thereby enhance democracy in the EU.”
Socialist group leader Martin Schulz described the result as “less than necessary but more than we expected.”
He added, “The big winner is without any doubt the European parliament.
“In future, we will elect the president of the commission. The foreign affairs commissioner will wear two hats as commission vice-president and chair of the foreign affairs council and will be directly related to parliament especially in budgetary procedure.
“Above all, parliament has increased rights to decide on legislation jointly with EU ministers.”
German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok said, “In spite of all the compromises, the substance of the draft constitution has been safeguarded.
“In this way, a reform of the EU towards more efficiency and democracy has been made possible.”
Constitutional affairs committee chairman Jo Leinen said, “Some sacrifices had to be made to achieve consensus among member states, not only the postponement of the voting system in council until 2017 but also the opt-out granted to the UK in foreign policy.”
ALDE leader Graham Watson, was less enthusiastic, saying, “The devil will be in the detail. This is a step forward for Europe but a victory for nobody."
"The difficulty in reaching agreement between 27 countries underlines the need for a revised treaty."
"EU integration will continue to be driven by developments in the outside world rather than idealism from within."
UK Liberal MEP Andrew Duff, ALDE constitutional affairs spokesperson,said, "This was a difficult agreement to reach, and showed the council, forced to work by unanimity, at its worst.
The IGC which is now scheduled to
open next month, subject to the consent of parliament, will have to improve upon the work of the heads of government in order to end up with a better treaty for a stronger and more democratic EU.”
"The British exemption from the charter is flawed and politically unjustifiable.”
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