9. Start of Lisbon Treaty opens new era for EU

L-R) Portugese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, Portugese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Ibero-American Secretary General Enrique Iglesias attend a news conference at the end of the 19th Ibero-American summit in Estoril, Portugal, on Dec. 1, 2009. The summit concluded here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi) Photo Gallery>>>

    On Nov. 19, Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy was chosen as the first full-time EU president and British EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as foreign policy chief of the 27-nation bloc at a special EU summit.

    On Dec. 1, the Treaty of Lisbon approved by all 27 EU members came into force, stating the EU is "heading into a new era."

    The treaty features new rules to accelerate decision-making so that the EU can respond more swiftly to global issues such as defense, energy security, climate change and migration.

    The Lisbon Treaty is a simplified version of a constitution treaty that was approved by EU leaders in 2004 but was aborted due to French and Dutch voters' rejection in 2005. 
    

European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is holding the EU Presidency, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L to R) talk at the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Oct. 30, 2009. Leaders of 27 EU member states held a two-day summit since Thursday to discuss about climate change, financing, EU institutional and economic issues. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Photo Gallery>>>

Lisbon Treaty ushers in new chapter for European integration

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Lisbon Treaty came into force on Dec. 1, ending an eight-year horse-trading and setbacks in the course of the European Union (EU)'s institutional construction.

    The treaty establishes important institutional changes, which aim to streamline the decision-making and bolster EU's influence on the world stage. It is hailed as the backbone of a more transparent, more effective and more democratic EU. Full story

Ibero-American Summit issues Lisbon Declaration

    ESTORIL, Portugal, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Heads of state and government of Ibero-America issued on Tuesday the Lisbon Declaration in Estoril, which underlined their determination to promote innovation and knowledge.

    At the close of the 19th Ibero-American Summit meeting, the dignitaries said that innovation and knowledge are essential tools to eradicate poverty, fight hunger and improve populations' health. Full story

    10. Copenhagen meeting ends with non-binding climate accord

Bolivia's President Evo Morales (L) and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (C)attend a press conference during the UN climate change conference at the Bella center in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Frequent extreme weather events in 2009 such as tropical cyclones and flooding aroused concerns by the international community. Some 15,000 representatives from 190 countries, including 100 heads of states or governments, gathered in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Conference on Dec. 7.

    The participants were expected to renew emissions reduction targets after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

    After 13 days of hectic negotiations, the meeting ended with a legally non-binding Copenhagen Accord. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Copenhagen talks took "a significant step forward" in committing countries to responding to climate change.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (1st L) speaks to reporters at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, the United States, Dec. 21, 2009. Ban Ki-moon admitted here Monday that he was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the climate talks in Copenhagen but said he was pleased that the political accord set the foundations for future negotiations. (Xinhua/Bai Jie) Photo Gallery>>>

UN climate change conference issues Copenhagen Accord

    COPENHAGEN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Climate Change Conference reached a legally non-binding Copenhagen Accord on Saturday.

    The accord upheld the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" set by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, made arrangements for developed countries' compulsory emissions cut and developing countries' voluntary mitigation actions, and included wide consensus on the key issues of long-term global emissions reduction objects, funding and technology support, and transparency. Full story

UN chief sees Copenhagen climate change talks successful

    UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Monday that the Copenhagen is "a success" and takes "a significant step forward" in committing countries to respond to climate change.

    "I know there is different assessment on the outcome of the conference, the overwhelming number of countries think it is a great success, and it takes a significant step forward," he told reporters. "I think we did get what we need" to push forward the process of the global fight against the climate change. Full story

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