Rapporteur for the new treaty

I was delighted to be appointed yesterday to draw up the European Parliament's report on the Reform Treaty (Treaty of Lisbon) together with my colleague, Inigo Mendez de Vigo. We are the co-ordinators of the two main political groups (the Socialists in my case and the Conservative+Christian Democrat EPP Group in his) showing the widespread support the Treaty enjoys from both sides of the House (apart from many of the British Conservatives).

Of course, we will just make the first draft - the parliamentary committee and then Parliament as a whole will vote on and can amend our draft. But the first discussion in committee last night showed broad support for an approach that focusses on comparing the new treaty to the current treaties (and noting the improvements) rather than on comparing it to the abandoned Constitutional Treaty (and moaning about the changes). A few Members did argue that we should focus on the latter, deploring the loss of the Constitution, but they were a minority.

It is an honour that my parliamentary colleagues have chosen me for this high-profile report. I hope that a clear, factual report will shed light on the new treaty and show why national parliaments should also approve it.