Lisbon Treaty: 17 States have officially ratified

(B2) 17 States have now filed their instrument of ratification. These are: Malta and Hungary (February 6), France (February 14), Romania (March 11), Slovenia (April 24), Bulgaria (April 28), Austria (May 13), Denmark (May 29), Latvia (June 16), Portugal (June 17), Slovakia (June 24), United Kingdom (July 16), Luxembourg (July 21), Italy (August 8), Greece (August 12), Cyprus and Lithuania (August 26 ).

This figure seems lower than the figures announced - elsewhere in particular by the European Commission (which mentions 24 ratifications). But it is the only one that is legally valid. The only formality, which has legal force for a text of international law, is, in fact, the filing of the act of ratification. And it is only with the 27th Member State depositing its ratification that the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force (the month following the last deposit - and at the earliest on January 1, 2009).

Several States which have more or less completed the parliamentary procedure (Cf. carte of the European Commission) have thus not deposited their instrument of ratification. Sometimes it is only a matter of the delay in completing the formality (transmission from the national Parliament, signature of the Head of State, transmission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), sometimes the delay has a more important reason, of a more political or legal. According to my accounts, these are: Belgium, Germany (we are awaiting the opinion of the Constitutional Court), Spain, Estonia, Finland (problem with the semi-autonomous islands of Aaland), the Netherlands, Poland (the President of the Republic Lech Kaczyński, has to be prayed for).

Two states did not finish their parliamentary ratification procedure: Sweden, Czech Republic (we expect the opinion of the Constitutional Court in the autumn).

One State expressed a negative vote (referendum): Ireland.

(NGV)

Original article written on July 18, updated on September 10 - Photo credit: European Commission