The upper house of the Dutch Parliament yesterday approved the EU's reform treaty which was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum last month. Lawmakers passed the measure with a large majority, just over a month after the lower house ratified the Treaty of Lisbon, which replaces an EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

The treaty needs the backing of all 27 member states to come into force and aims to give the EU a stronger leadership, a more effective foreign policy and a fairer decision-making system. The European Commission welcomed the Dutch backing for the treaty.

"I want to thank the Dutch government and Parliament for their strong support for the Treaty as shown by the large majority in today's vote," EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso said in a statement.

Queen Beatrix and the Dutch justice and foreign affairs ministries must now sign the treaty in the final step of the ratification process.