European Union leaders have overcome months of acrimony to reach agreement on a new reform treaty. It aims to speed up decision-making and clear the way for the appointment of an EU president and a more powerful foreign policy chief.
Last-minute concessions granted to Poland and Italy secured the deal.
The president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, says his country is satisfied.
"Basically Poland got what it wanted," he said.
"Another thing is the whole operation called the EU Reform Treaty, and may I recall we don't have a constitutional treaty we have a reform treaty.
"This whole operation is now crowned with success."
The Irish foreign minister, Dermot Ahern, said that the new treaty would bring the organisation up to date.
"It definitely is a tidying up exercise in that the European institutions haven't really been changed since it was first formed, when there were only six member states," he said.
"Today there's 27, so from that point of view it's only logical we should make changes to make it a little more easy to work." © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
