On December 13, 2007, the EU leaders gathered in Lisbon to sign the new Reform Treaty, to be known as the Treaty of Lisbon. This Treaty is intended to replace the defunct European Constitution, which was signed by the EU Member States in 2004 but was rejected by French and Dutch voters in national referenda in 2005. If successfully ratified by all Member States, the Treaty of Lisbon will enter into force on January 1, 2009 ahead of the next elections for the European Parliament.
