The signing of the Treaty of Lisbon found place in Lisbon, Portugal on 13 December 2007. The Portuguese presidency arranged a ceremony inside the 15th century Jerónimos Monastery, the same place Portugal's EU accession treaty was signed in 1984. Representatives of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) were present, and signed the treaty as plenipotentiaries. In addition, for the first time an EU treaty was also signed by the presidents of the three main EU insitutions institutions. After the main ceremony, the heads of state and government took a train ride together, marking.
Background
In line with the established tradition of EU treaties, this treaty which initially went under the name of 'Reform Treaty' was eventually named after the capital of the country holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union at the end of negotiations. Consequently the new treaty was named Treaty of Lisbon since Portugal held the presidency in the second half of 2007.
Ceremony
Signatures
Decorations
Absence of Gordon Brown
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was the only national representative who was planned to sign the Treaty in the ceremony but did not take part. Instead, he signed the document at a lunch for heads of state and government later the same day. A requirement to appear before a committee of British MPs was cited as the reason for his absence.[1] Parts of British media criticised Brown for this, suggesting he did it because he was not proud to sign the Treaty.[citation needed]
