Q&A: The new EU treaty explained

Telegraph

"Q&A: The new EU treaty explained

Last Updated: 2:08am BST 25/07/2007

What is it?

European Union leaders are rushing through a new “Reform Treaty” to replace the Constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. The 277-page EU Treaty text was tabled in Brussels on Monday - there are 145 pages of draft articles, 69 of protocols and 63 pages of declarations.

The document is only available in French, and the Government has refused to produce an official English translation until after the House of Commons takes its summer holidays. MPs will return to duty just 10 days before Gordon Brown signs a final Treaty in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon on October 18 and 19. Rejecting referendum calls, the Prime Minister will press for parliamentary ratification on an EU Treaty that will have been negotiated without scrutiny by MPs."