Italy gives EU treaty green light, opponents demand referendum

Italy gives EU treaty green light, opponents demand referendum
30 May 2008, 19:09 CET

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's new government on Friday adopted measures to ratify the EU treaty of Lisbon , but its Northern League partner -which says "We are facing a serious case of abandoning sovereignty",- wants this to be put to a referendum, ANSA news agency reported....

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini stressed that Friday's cabinet decision, which has to be approved by parliament, was taken unanimously...

Like the rejected constitution, the treaty of Lisbon proposes a permanent president to replace the cumbersome six-month rotating presidency system.

It also resizes the European Parliament and cuts back on the number of policy decision areas subject to unanimous support among EU member states -- effectively reducing national vetoes.