LONDON -- The Lisbon Treaty was ratified by the British Parliament on Wednesday by a margin of 93, making Britain the 19th European Union (EU) country to ratify the EU reform treaty without a referendum.

The treaty was passed through the House of Commons despite the Conservative attempt to delay ratification until the autumn, Sky news reported.

Britain's ratification came on the eve of an EU summit in Brussels which is expected to be dominated by Ireland's "no" vote in the referendum last week. The ratification is also expecting Royal Assent within 24 hours.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will hold talks in Paris on his way to the Brussels summit on Thursday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss on the current dilemma before France takes over the EU's six-month rotating presidency in July.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso had expressed thanks to the British government for its "constant support" for the new treaty. He also urged all EU states who have not yet to approve the treaty to continue the process despite the Irish "no" vote.

The treaty is expected to come into force in January 2009 after all the 27 EU member states have ratified it. But the Irish "no" vote has plunged the Union into uncertainty.
关键字:英语国际新闻
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