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Bill · started in the Commons

European Union (Amendment) Act 2008

A Bill to make provision in connection with the Treaty of Lisbon Amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon on 13th December 2007.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe European Union (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 17 December 2007 by David Miliband (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, receiving Royal Assent on 19 June 2008.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill paves the way for UK ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, which was signed on 13 December 2007. The Lisbon Treaty is an amending Treaty. </p><p>The Lisbon Treaty aims to reform the European Union&rsquo;s institutions to enable it to function more efficiently with 27 Members. It also introduces new elements, many of which were in the abandoned 2004 constitutional treaty.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>The Bill will amend the European Communities Act 1972 to include the Lisbon Treaty in the list of &lsquo;Community Treaties.&rsquo; This gives it legal force in the UK, with the exception of provisions on or linked to the Common Foreign and Security Policy, which will remain subject to intergovernmental procedures. </li><li>Other amendments to the 1972 Act concern a mechanism for parliamentary control over provisions in the Treaty which allow for its amendment without the full Treaty amendment system, and changes to terminology under existing UK legislation to take account of the new Treaty.<br></li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 17 Dec 2007
  2. 2nd reading Commons 21 Jan 2008
  3. Committee stage Commons 29 Jan to 5 Mar 2008
  4. 3rd reading Commons 11 Mar 2008
  5. 1st reading Lords 12 Mar 2008
  6. 2nd reading Lords 1 Apr 2008
  7. Committee stage Lords 22 Apr to 20 May 2008
  8. Report stage Lords 4 Jun to 11 Jun 2008
  9. 3rd reading Lords 18 Jun 2008
  10. Royal Assent Unassigned 19 Jun 2008

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 23 Feb 2009.