European Union's new treaty approved in Germany
Pastor Dale Morgan
European Union's new treaty approved in Germany*
May 23, 6:49 AM (ET)
By GEIR MOULSON
BERLIN (AP) - The German parliament's upper house approved the
European Union's new treaty on Friday - the document's last
legislative hurdle in the 27-nation bloc's most populous country.
The document, known as the Lisbon Treaty, easily won the necessary
two-thirds majority in the upper house, which represents the country's
16 state governments. All but one state voted in favor, giving the
treaty 65 out of a possible 69 votes.
Germany becomes the 14th country to approve the treaty in parliament.
Only President Horst Koehler's signature - usually a formality - is
required to complete ratification.
The lower house overwhelmingly backed the treaty last month.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it creates "no less than a new
foundation for Europe."
The treaty would alter the EU's decision-making process, envisioning
more decisions by majority vote rather than unanimous endorsement. It
would also provide for an EU president and a more powerful senior
foreign policy official to give the bloc a stronger voice in global
affairs.
The treaty replaces a more ambitious draft constitution that EU
leaders drew up to govern a bloc whose membership has expanded from 15
to 27 nations in recent years. That charter was rejected by French and
Dutch voters in 2005.
The new treaty must be ratified by all 27 EU members to take effect.
Only one country, Ireland, is holding a referendum, set for June 12.