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Spanish Congress approves Lisbon Treaty

By Xinhua (Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-27 11:30

MADRID -- The Spanish Congress on Thursday ratified the Lisbon Treaty on reforming the European Union.

The initiative received 322 votes in favor and six against, with two abstentions, legislative authorities said.

The treaty now goes to the Senate to continue the process for final approval.

Spain has always been a supporter of European integration. The Spanish electorate also approved the previous constitution reform project that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

The country is the 20th within the EU to endorse the Lisbon Treaty, which will take effect only after being approved by all 27members. However, the Irish rejected the document in a national referendum, which adds uncertainty to the EU reform plan.

The reform is expected to improve the EU decision-making process by creating the post of a full-time EU president and a more powerful EU foreign policy representative.

The EU considers a new constitution to be necessary, because the current one is not functional when the number of the bloc's members increased from 15 to 27.