EU leaders are seeking to have the text of the treaty discussed by parliament in each country, rather than by national referendums. Recall that the draft single constitution, now shelved, was defeated two years ago precisely in referendums – in France and the Netherlands.
The treaty is stripped of the political pathos present in the draft constitution and of the solemn details hinting at a European 'superstate' or federation. But the goal is the same: to give greater weight to the world's most powerful economic power.
The EU will have a president elected by the heads of state for two and a half years. French President Nicolas Sarkozy sees current Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as the first to hold this post, while British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sees his predecessor Tony Blair.
Decisions in the EU Council will be taken by qualified majority, that is, faster than now when the rule of consensus applies. However, at Poland's request, a provision was included in the treaty (not in an annex) that allows a country that finds itself in the minority in a vote to temporarily freeze the majority's decision. 'Poland got what it wanted,' Polish President Lech Kaczynski said with satisfaction.
The EU will have a foreign minister. Officially, he will be called not a minister but the High Representative for Foreign Policy. But the person holding this post (most likely the current almost identical role holder, Spaniard Javier Solana) will also become Vice-President of the European Commission. His powers will be expanded, and he will even manage the EU budget.