It took eight years to negotiate and suffered three referendum defeats along the way but the Lisbon Treaty has finally entered into force.
As celebrations got underway in the Portuguese capital tonight the European Parliament and national parliaments were taking stock of the enhanced role the treaty promises to offer.
In 2001, European leaders called for an entirely new rulebook to make Europe more democratic and more relevant on the world stage. A new constitution was produced. However, the new constitution was rejected by Dutch and French voters in 2005. Then came the Lisbon Treaty which amended rather than replaced existing treaties. However, this too was rejected by Irish voters in June 2008. The referendum was put to the Irish people a year later and was accepted.
Tonight, there were celebrations in Lisbon itself as the treaty finally entered force.
Jim Higgins MEP believes the new Lisbon Treaty provides enhanced powers to elected members of the European Parliament. Another Irish MEP Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher, says delays in his work on the fisheries committee is an indication of the extra responsibilities that the European Parliament will have under the Lisbon Treaty.
The Lisbon Treaty has had a torturous journey and no one is claiming it will solve Europe's problems but with the European parliament from today enjoying increased powers and national parliaments having a bigger say, it can at least claim to have addressed the fears about a democratic deficit.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 December 2009. The reporter is Tony Connelly.
