TREATY OF LISBON SIMPLIFIES DECISION-MAKING FOR EU

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Decision-making for the European Union
(EU) will be simplified when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force on Dec 1, said
Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Helena Sangeland.

She said the treaty enabled the EU to respond faster and in a more efficient
way, and clarified responsibilities at the European and national levels.

In other words, "who does what".

"The EU has grown from the initial six contries in 1957 to 27 nations today.
More countries will join in the coming years and this makes it important to
simplify our decision-making rules.

"The new treaty also strenghthens the rights of the European citizens,
through an increased role for the European Parliament and through scrutiny
rights for the national parliaments," she said.

Sangeland, who currently holds the EU presidency, was speaking at a press
conference here today, to explain the treaty's significance.

Meanwhile, Ambassador and Head of the European Commission Delegation to
Malaysia, Vincent Piket explained that the Lisbon Treaty opened a new chapter in
the process of European Integration.

"The treaty aims to increase the efficiency and transperancy of Europe. It
also promotes an EU single voice in global affairs and coherence between our
internal and external policies," he said.

Piket explained that the EU was currently faced with the challenges of the
21st Century, such as sustainable development, climate change, energy security,
and cross-border crime and security in general.

"All these new factors have altered the way in which the EU should be
managed and the Lisbon Treaty provides an answer," he said.

Meanwhile, Sangeland said the EU would continue to invest in Malaysia in the
future.

"EU is one of the main investors in Malaysia in several sectors such as
oil and gas, education, manufacturing, and we expect there will be more," she
said.

-- BERNAMA