Bogdan Klich (PPE-DE). – (PL) Mr President, we do indeed have a new Treaty, and this alone is cause for satisfaction. There is, however, something else that is more important – that the Treaty is a good one. It is a good treaty, because it responds to the challenges that Europe is facing today.

Moreover, it also fulfils the aims that were stated as an obligation in the Laeken Declaration six years ago. In line with those aims, the Treaty arranges and simplifies both the institutional framework and the legal system of the Union. It democratises the European Union, among other things by reinforcing the legislative role of our Parliament. It brings the Union closer to its citizens, and one way in which it does this is through the citizens’ initiative.

The question is, will the Union, as a result of the Treaty, have greater significance in the world and act more effectively? This, however, does not depend only on the institutions introduced or modified by the Treaty; it depends primarily on the political will of the leaders of the Member States. Should this will be lacking, all the institutional reform will have counted for nothing. In order that the Treaty does not remain a moribund law, a moribund document, I would like to appeal for a community of political will at the time of its signing and after its ratification.