The lower house of the German parliament Thursday overwhelmingly approved the Lisbon Treaty of the European Union which German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed as "good for Europe and Germany."
The treaty was approved by a vote of 515 to 58 in the Bundestag, with one abstention.
The Bundesrat, the upper house of the parliament, is due to vote on the treaty May 23. The two-thirds majority needed for its ratification is seen as certain.
Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Merkel hailed the EU reform treaty as "a great project" which would provide a solid basis for Europe to move ahead from a standstill.
"Europe will grow stronger and more self-confident than ever before," she said.
She also expressed the hope that the treaty would take effect on January 1, 2009.
The Lisbon Treaty, signed by EU heads of state and government last December, is vital to streamlining the function of the regional bloc.
It provides for far-reaching changes in the EU's institutions and decision-making mechanisms, including the creation of a long-term president of the European Council instead of the current six-month rotation system, and the adoption of a double majority voting system -- approval by at least 55 percent of the membership and at least 65 percent of the bloc's total population.
However, it drops all references to the EU flag or anthem, to assuage euro skeptic fears of another step toward a federal Europe.
The new treaty can only take effect with the approval of all 27 EU members. So far 10 of them have given the green light.
Source:Xinhua
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