The European Liberal Democrat Prime Ministers, Andrus Ansip, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, Matti Vanhanen and Guy Verhofstadt are against reopening the institutional package, including the voting rights, agreed in the EU Constitution.

«We need a new Treaty so that our Union of 27 Member States work effectively. The EU cannot continue to be absorbed in an endless constitutional debate. In the new Treaty, we should retain the extended use of qualified majority voting and the institutional provisions », stressed Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

For the European Liberal Democrats, it is essential that the treaty contains the following provisions:

Fundamental rights for the EU citizens:
- a reference to the European charter of fundamental rights making it a binding document for the EU member states

A stronger role for the EU in the World:
- a Minister for Foreign Affairs and an EU diplomatic service, replacing the current EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the external relations commissioner, allowing Europe to speak with one voice on the world stage
- an international legal personality allowing the EU to play a full part in global institutions

More capacity for the EU to solve key challenges:
- extension of qualified majority voting to areas such as asylum, immigration and judicial co-operation in criminal matters;
- A protocole on the modernization of EU policies which includes a solidarity clause between Member States on energy, greater coordination of policies on countering terrorism and improving the collective European defence

More control over the EU activities for the national parliaments:
- National parliaments’ oversight over the subsidiarity principle

A commitment to aim at a 2009 entry into force:
- A commitment to ratification by national parliaments and a 2009 timeline for adoption of the new Treaty