Chief EU negotiator Bagis praises Irish people for approving treaty of Lisbon

State Minister and chief negotiator for European Union talks Egemen Bagis yesterday praised the Irish people for backing the Treaty of Lisbon, which entails major changes to the EU's administrative and legal structure. "I congratulate the Irish people for this prudent and historic choice, which closely concerns the future of Europe," he said, referring to a Saturday referendum on the treaty which passed with over 67 percent approval. "Turkey wishes to see all EU countries ratify the Treaty of Lisbon as soon as possible following Ireland's approval of it in a referendum, thus increasing the EU's capacity for further enlargement." Bagis said that the approval was a sign of the EU's determination for enlargement and also reiterated Turkey's commitment to continue its path to EU membership. "The treaty will remarkably and directly contribute to the reinvigoration and modernization of the EU, besides fortifying decision-making mechanisms within the Union," he said. "With this treaty, the EU once again showed its determination for further progress in the meanings of both deepening and enlargement. New EU institutions, policies and decision-making mechanisms that will be established on the basis of Lisbon will mean a new momentum for the EU towards further development. With this treaty, the EU took an important step towards becoming a real global actor, more democratization, and unity in diversity." The treaty, the result of years of negotiations, was designed to underpin plans to further expand the bloc into the Balkans and perhaps beyond, and create a potentially powerful new president and foreign chief to give the bloc a stronger world voice. This was the second referendum in Ireland after voters initially rejected the EU treaty last year. The treaty was agreed upon in 2007 by EU leaders after years of wrangling over how to make the EU more manageable, and was redrafted since then due to the rejections of the treaty in referenda in France, the Netherlands, and Ireland. It needs approval by all member states to be implemented. To take effect, Lisbon needs two more approvals, from the Czech Republic and Poland. The parliaments of these two countries passed the treaty, which awaits the final signatures of their presidents.