VIENNA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Austrian National Council ratified the European Union Reform Treaty (Lisbon Treaty) on Wednesday after over eight hours long debating.

    Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPOe), Austrian People's Party (OeVP) and the Green Party regarded the treaty as a progress while the representatives from Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) and Federal Future Party of Austria (BZOe) insisted that it be a damage on the sovereignty of Austria.

    Austria is the eighth country which ratified the EU Reform Treaty. Other seven countries are Hungary, Slovenia, France, Malta, Bulgaria and Romania. Poland's final ratification rests now on its president, who has said he will sign it.

    The EU Reform Treaty, which signed by the leaders of EU member states on Dec. 13, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal in replacement of the rejected European Constitution, was scheduled to be ratified by all member states by the end of 2008 and will take effect in 2009.