What was agreed yesterday in Brussels?

A “reform” treaty, aimed at changing the European Union, partly to cope with its larger membership of 27 countries. Following yesterday’s deal there will now be a six-month intergovernmental conference to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. The treaty will be signed (by Gordon Brown) in December, and take effect in mid2009.

Is it an EU constitution?

Not in name. All references to the constitution were dropped following the original constitution’s rejection by French and Dutch voters two years ago. But experts say it is a constitution in all but name, with most of the original proposals kept.

What will the new EU president do?

If the treaty goes through there will be an EU president, voted for by national leaders. The idea is to stop the rotation of the EU presidency between member countries every six months. There will also be an EU foreign minister, or “high representative”, and an EU diplomatic service.

Could Tony Blair become EU president?

Unlikely, though France’s Nicolas Sarkozy has floated the idea. The job sounds grander than it is, and even a Brussels salary won’t be enough to pay the Blair mortgage.

What about the foreign minister?

Critics see the “high representative” and EU diplomatic service as the thin end of a wedge that will eventually lead to a common EU foreign policy. The new treaty provides for progress towards a common defence policy too.

Does the treaty involve a transfer of powers from Britain to Europe?

Yes, and Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, admitted as much yesterday. Open Europe, the think tank, says that Britain will lose the power to veto, or stop, action by Europe in nearly 70 areas.

What kind of areas?

They range from big policy areas such as public health, energy policy and transport, through science and space policy, to specifics such as employment law for the self-employed. The loss of veto in energy policy could mean that Britain is forced to introduce certain energy-saving technologies against our will. Sport will become subject to majority voting, raising fears that England’s Premier League could face caps on wages and transfer fees.

Tony Blair talked about his “red lines”. What were they?

The prime minister secured an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights and maintained national control over justice and home affairs, his two most important red lines. But experts say there was never a serious threat these would be breached. Blair, after urging from Brown, also secured a legal obligation that competition would be pursued within the EU, though Sarkozy succeeded in removing this from the preamble to the new treaty.

What were the Poles upset about?

A new voting system, which reduces their voting rights, and which goes back on an agreement made seven years ago in Nice. But the Poles rolled over, though the system, originally intended to take effect in 2014, will now be phased in by 2017.

Will there be a UK referendum on this treaty?

Not if Gordon Brown has anything to do with it.

Did anything else happen at the meeting?

Cyprus and Malta were accepted for membership of the euro from next January.

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