Intergovernmental Conference 2007

The EU Member States opened the Intergovernmental Conference on 23 July 2007 in conjunction with the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels.  The Portuguese Presidency presented the IGC with a proposal for a new Treaty. The IGC negotiations were led by the EU Heads of State or Government assisted by the members of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council. Civil servant level preparations were conducted in a group of legal experts who finalised their work at the beginning of October.

The Intergovernmental Conference was concluded in Lisbon on 18 and 19 October in conjunction with the Informal meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government. The EU Heads of State or Government reached a political agreement on the contents of the EU Reform Treaty that amends the current Treaties of the European Union. The new Treaty is to enter into force before the next elections to the European Parliament, to be held in June 2009.

Documents approved at the IGC in Lisbon (18 Cotober 2007)

Prime Minister Vanhanen's statement to Parliament on the results of the IGC (23 October 2007)

EU Member States adopted the Reform Treaty (press release 19 October 2007)

EU Intergovernmental Conference opened (press release 23 July 2007)

Thors and Tiilikainen to lead IGC negotiation delegation (press release 28 June 2007)