On 1 December the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force. In the city that has lent its name to the Treaty, the event is being marked with fireworks, music and speeches from EU leaders. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will attend.

The Treaty of Lisbon was ‘born’ in Lisbon two years ago, when the EU’s heads of state and government met there and signed the Treaty. Now, all Member States have ratified the text and the Treaty will enter into force on 1 December. Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates, in collaboration with the Swedish EU Presidency and the European Commission, has chosen to celebrate this with a ceremony.

During the evening, speeches will be given by Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of the European Council Fredrik Reinfeldt, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero (representing the incoming Spanish Presidency), the incoming permanent President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates. The EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, will also attend.

The ceremony, which is to take place in the garden of the Tower of Belém at the outlet of the Tejo river, begins at 19.30 and ends at 20.30. The ceremony will be filmed by EbS and will be available to watch afterwards at http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm.

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