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The following is the text of the draft "conclusions" of this week's European Summit, specifically in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, as circulated by the French presidency to member states. 

Delegations will find in annex I the part of the European Council conclusions on the Lisbon Treaty, as well as annexes II, III, IV and V, which will be attached to the European Council conclusions.

ANNEX I



DRAFT CONCLUSIONS


1.

The European Council re-affirms that the Lisbon Treaty is considered necessary in order to help the enlarged Union to function more efficiently, more democratically and more effectively including in international affairs. With a view to enabling the

Treaty to enter into force by the end of 2009, the European Council has defined the following path.


2.

On the composition of the Commission, the European Council recalls that the Treaties currently in force require that the number of Commissioners be reduced in 2009. The European Council agrees that provided the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, a

decision will be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, to the effect that the Commission shall continue to include one national of each Member State.

3.

The European Council has carefully noted the other concerns of the Irish people presented by the Taoiseach as set out in the statement annexed relating to taxation policy, family, social and ethical issues, and Common Security and Defence Policy

(CSDP) with regard to Ireland’s traditional policy of neutrality. The European Council agrees that these concerns shall be addressed to the mutual satisfaction of Ireland and the other Member States by way of the necessary legal guarantees, provided

Ireland makes the commitment in paragraph 4.

4.

In the light of the above commitments by the European Council, and conditional on the satisfactory completion of the detailed follow-on work by mid-2009 and on presumption of their satisfactory implementation, the Irish Government is committed to

seeking ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of the term of the current Commission.


ANNEX II



Statement of the Concerns of the Irish People on the Treaty of Lisbon as set out by the Taoiseach



1. Ensuring that Ireland’s requirements regarding maintenance of its traditional policy of neutrality are met;



2. Ensuring that the terms of the Lisbon Treaty will not affect the continued application of the provisions of the Irish Constitution in relation to the right to life, education and the family;



3. Ensuring that in the area of taxation the Treaty of Lisbon makes no change of any kind to the extent or operation of the Union’s competences;



4. Confirming that the Union attaches high importance to:



* social progress and the protection of workers’ rights;



* public services, as an indispensable instrument of social and regional cohesion;



* the responsibility of Member States for the delivery of education and health services;



* the essential role and wide discretion of national, regional and local Governments in providing, commissioning and organising non-economic services of general interest which is not affected by any provision of the Treaty of Lisbon, including those relating to the common commercial policy.