text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Lisbon Treaty - Approves of the government's policy towards the Lisbon Treaty with regards to climate change
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  
  The majority Aye voters successfully approved[1] the Government's policy towards the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_lisbon Treaty of Lisbon] in respect of that Treaty's provisions concerning climate change.
  
  This was thus a further step along the road of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty and promoting closer European integration.
  
  The main aims of the Lisbon Treaty were to[2]:
  
  * Streamline EU institutions
  * Establish a permanent President of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council European Council] (as of 16 March 2010 held by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Van_Rompuy Herman Van Rompuy])
  * Establish the post of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Representative_of_the_Union_for_Foreign_Affairs_and_Security_Policy High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy] (as of 16 March 2010 held by Catherine Ashton)
  * Give new powers to the EU over justice and home affairs
  * Remove the national veto in some areas such as energy security and emergency aid 
  
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  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-02-27b.1097.2 Hilary Benn MP], House of Commons, 27 February 2008
  * [2] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6901353.stm BBC News Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty], 5 February 2010
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  