The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force on 1 December 2009. The European Commission believes that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens in Europe and its partners and will settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future.
President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso said, "The Treaty of Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. I'm delighted that we now have the right institutions to act and a period of stability, so that we can focus all our energy on delivering what matters to our citizens".    

H.E. Vassilis Bontosoglou, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Syria, said "Today marks the culmination of a long process whereby the Member States of the EU have sought to clarify and enhance the EU’s role as an effective global actor. This is a good day for the European Union itself, but also for the relations between Syria and the EU."

The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force on 1 December 2009. The European Commission believes that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens in Europe and its partners and will settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future.
President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso said, "The Treaty of Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. I'm delighted that we now have the right institutions to act and a period of stability, so that we can focus all our energy on delivering what matters to our citizens".    

H.E. Vassilis Bontosoglou, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Syria, said "Today marks the culmination of a long process whereby the Member States of the EU have sought to clarify and enhance the EU’s role as an effective global actor. This is a good day for the European Union itself, but also for the relations between Syria and the EU."

As of today, the EU has a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, who will be also a Vice-President of the European Commission. This will bring greater coherence to the way the EU conducts foreign policy, with a High Representative heading a single structure covering all aspects of the EU's external policy.

The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current European Union and European Commission treaties, without replacing them. It will provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.

The Treaty of Lisbon will ensure European citizens have their say in European affairs and see their fundamental rights set out in a charter. The EU will be better equipped to meet expectations in the fields of energy, climate change, cross-border crime and immigration. It will also be able to speak with a stronger voice on the international scene.

Among key improvements are:

• The European Parliament and national parliaments will now have a much greater say in the EU's decision-making process, citizens will have the right to know what their Ministers are deciding at the EU level, and all European citizens will be given the opportunity to influence proposed EU laws.
• The EU's institutions will be more effective and streamlined, giving the EU greater ability to combat crime, terrorism and human trafficking.
• The EU's values and goals will be set down more clearly than ever before, and the charter of fundamental rights will be given the same legal status as the EU treaties themselves.

"From now on, the EU will be a partner which is better able to respond to the challenges we all face around the globe, and better able to develop its relationship with Syria", said Ambassador Bontosoglou. "I have always worked in close cooperation with my colleagues, the Ambassadors of the Member States, and particularly, of course, with those assuring the local Presidency of the EU." The Ambassador of Sweden will continue to serve as the local Presidency of the EU until the end of this year.

Milestones concerning the Treaty of Lisbon:

• June 2007: European Council mandate for an Intergovernmental Conference aiming at amending the existing Treaties
• July-October 2007: Intergovernmental Conference
• Approval of the Treaty at the informal European Council on 18-19 October 2007
• 12 December 2007: Proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the Presidents of the European Parliament (EP), the Council and the Commission.
• 13 December 2007: Signature of the new Treaty in Lisbon
• December 2007 - November 2009: ratification procedures in all 27 Member States
• 1 December 2009: Entry into force of the Treaty

A copy of the Treaty of Lisbon can be found at: http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty

Under the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty the European Commission's Delegations become Delegations of the European Union as from today. Other details (address, email address, telephone number, web address) remain the same.