A step closer to the Lisbon Treaty
Today, 10 October, Poland concludes the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. At a ceremony in Warsaw, Polish President Lech Kaczynski signed the ratification instrument in the presence of President of the Council Fredrik Reinfeldt, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek.
Photo: Minna Frydén Bonnier/Regeringskansliet
Lech Kaczyński, Fredrik Reinfeldt, José Manuel Barroso and Jerzy Buzek.
"Now the day has arrived. It is an important day to Poland and an important day to the 27 Member States of the EU. For many months, I have maintained that I will ratify the Lisbon Treaty as soon as the Irish people have said yes in a referendum. Now they have, and in a few minutes I will sign Poland's ratification", said Polish President Lech Kaczynski in his speech at the ceremony held in the Polish Presidential palace.
The EU cannot close its doors
Lech Kaczynski pointed out the positive aspects of deepening the European cooperation, but also said that the EU is and shall remain a union of independent states. He also spoke enthusiastically about a continued enlargement of the union.
"In 1957, the EU consisted of six Member States. Now there are 27 of us and I am deeply convinced that this is not the end. Soon, Croatia will probably join the European cooperation and other countries are certain to follow suit. The EU cannot close its doors to the countries that want to join. I am thinking of the Balkan countries, the Ukraine and Georgia and in the future even more countries. The EU cannot turn these countries down. And we have seen that the EU continues to function, despite the great eastern enlargement of five years ago. I am certain that the Union will function even better with the Treaty of Lisbon", said Lech Kaczynski.
In his speech, Fredrik Reinfeldt welcomed the Polish President's signature.
"Now Poland has joined the rest of the countries of Europe to move the European cooperation forward based on a new treaty. A Treaty that will better reflect this new union of 27 countries and a Treaty that will embrace the openness to new members."
Europe is eagerly waiting
With the Polish approval, all obstacles to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty have been removed in 26 of the EU's 27 Member States. Now only the Czech Republic remains. The Treaty is there being examined in the country’s Constitutional Court and then, President Vaclav Klaus has to sign.
"Today, President Kaczynskis signature brings us one step closer to a new Treaty. However, the Czech Republic still needs to complete its ratification of the Treaty through a signature by President Klaus. Europe eagerly awaits this to happen," said Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Published
10 October13:47
Council
European Council (not council-specific)
Location
Warsaw, Poland
Contacts
-
Roberta Alenius
Press Secretary to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
+46 8 405 10 00