The Lisbon Treaty will enter into force in the course of 2009 following ratification by all the 27 EU member states. The following are the main points of the new EU treaty.
No Constitution
The new treaty is a more modest charter when compared to the constitutional project. It amends previous EU treaty rule books, and drops some of the symbolic elements of the Constitution such as formally recognising the EU flag and anthem.
Charter of fundamental rights
A 50-article charter contains an exhaustive list of well-established rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, but also includes the right to shelter, education, collective labour bargaining and fair working conditions. It will be legally binding on 25 of the 27 EU members. Britain and Poland obtained an opt-out.
European Parliament
Proposed changes to the EU Parliament foresee the number of members drop from 785 to 750 plus the president, which would mean fewer seats for 17 of the 27 EU member states. Malta will get an additional seat boosting its number of MEPs to six from the next elections to be held in mid-2009.
EU Council
The treaty will mean the EU can take decisions by majority rather than unanimous voting in 50 new areas including judicial and police cooperation, education and economic policy. Britain and Ireland got opt-outs in judicial and police areas.
Unanimity is still required in foreign and defence policy, social security, taxation and culture.
However, as from 2014, a new double majority voting system will be introduced and a decision needs approval by at least 55 per cent of the number of member states representing 65 per cent of the EU's total population.
Until 2004, Malta's vote weighting will amount to three votes, one less than Luxembourg.
Foreign affairs
The EU will start being represented on the international level through a representative for foreign affairs, taking the place of the current two-post system divided between the high representative for foreign and security policy and the Commissioner for External Affairs. This representative will also be nominated as vice president of the European Commission.
European President
A President will be chosen by EU leaders for a maximum five-year term to chair EU summits, facilitate cohesion and consensus and represent the EU abroad. This will replace the current system in which EU leaders rotate into the President's post every six months. However, member states will still get a chance of presiding over the EU Councils at ministerial level for six months on a rotation basis.
Smaller European Commission
The EU executive office will be cut from the present 27 members to 17. Commissioners will be selected on a rotation system among the states and will sit for five-year terms. Malta has the right to appoint a commissioner but this will stop from 2014 onwards. The same applies to all the other member states independent of their size.