A landmark treaty to reform decision-making in the European Union stands a good chance of being ratified by all 27 member states by the end of 2008, a top EU diplomat to Japan told a recent seminar in Tokyo.
The Lisbon Treaty, signed by EU leaders Dec. 13, will not likely meet the same fate as the EU Constitution, which was scuppered by French and Dutch referendums in 2005, although the new treaty in substance retains key features of the rejected constitution, said Hugh Richardson, ambassador of the European Commission's delegation to Japan.
During his speech at the Dec. 14 seminar organized by Keizai Koho Center, Richardson said the new treaty is the fruit of "two years of agonized reflection" among EU members following the 2005 setback in their bid for closer integration.
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