text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Lisbon Treaty - Exclude energy from being a shared policy area in the European Union - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  
  The majority No voters rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/europeanunionamendment.html European Union (Amendment) Bill]. If passed this would have removed energy from the list of the European Union (EU)'s shared policy areas as set out in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_lisbon Treaty of Lisbon]. However, the amendment was defeated.
  
  The amendment can be seen as an attempt to limit Britain's further integration with the European Union.
  
  The European Union (Amendment) Bill implements the Lisbon Treaty into UK law. 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=2008-01-30c.409.6 Mark Francois MP], House of Commons, 30 January 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)
  