Statement by the Taoiseach following signature of the Reform Treaty, Lisbon , 13 December 2007

I am delighted to have traveled to Lisbon together with Minister Ahern and Minister Roche to sign the Reform Treaty.

The signature of the Treaty is an important milestone for the Union. It allows the Union move from a period of introspection to face outward to the real challenges and opportunities we face. It is time now to focus on what it is we want our Union to do and on getting results, rather than institutional questions.

Tomorrow’s European Council is set to adopt a declaration on globalization. Perhaps nothing so captures the challenges facing, as well as the necessity for, our Union.

As we sign the Treaty, negotiations in Bali continue to prepare for a follow on agreement to the Kyoto protocol. Only a coordinated response to Climate Change can succeed. The Union is the most advanced model of the shared sovereignty required to meet challenges which respect no borders, such as climate change.

The Reform Treaty signed today:

gives full legal effect to the Charter of Fundamental Rights;

gives an important new role in European affairs to national parliaments;

gives the Union new responsibilities in the related areas of energy and climate change;

improves the coherence of the Union’s internal and external business by establishing the posts of President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs;

makes the Union more efficient by reforming the institutions, slimming down the Commission, capping the size of the European Parliament and producing a clearer voting system so that only proposals that command strong support representative of both Europe’s Member States and its population and peoples can be adopted.

As the importance of the Union grows internationally, so too does its importance to Ireland as we consolidate and build upon the major national gains we have made in recent years. A stronger, more purposeful and more effective Union serves Ireland’s interests. That is why I will be urging support for the Reform Treaty when it is put to the electorate for decision during 2008.

Ends.

13th December 2007