text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Lisbon Treaty - Change the date upon which the Treaty will come into force - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  The majority of the Lords voted against changing the time when the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon Lisbon Treaty] comes into force.[1] As the [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldbills/040/08040.i-i.html#top European Union (Amendment) Bill] stood the Lisbon Treaty would come into force when the Bill received [http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/stages/royal.cfm Royal Assent]. The amendment attempted to change the wording of the Bill so that it would come into force when the Secretary of State introduced a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_Instrument statutory instrument] to enact the relevant sections. However, the amendment was defeated.
  
  The European Union (Amendment) Bill implements the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon 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/lords/?id=2008-06-11a.578.6#g579.0 Lord Howell of Guildford], House of Lords, 11 June 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)
  