By GEIR MOULSON,
The German parliament's upper house approved the European Union's new treaty on Friday — the document's last legislative hurdle in the 27-nation bloc's most populous country.
The document, known as the Lisbon Treaty, easily won the necessary two-thirds majority in the upper house, which represents the country's 16 state governments. All but one state voted in favor, giving the treaty 65 out of a possible 69 votes.
Germany becomes the 14th country to approve the treaty in parliament. Only President Horst Koehler's signature — usually a formality — is required to complete ratification.
The lower house overwhelmingly backed the treaty last month. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it creates "no less than a new foundation for Europe."
The treaty would alter the EU's decision-making process, envisioning more decisions by majority vote rather than unanimous endorsement. It would also provide for an EU president and a more powerful senior foreign policy official to give the bloc a stronger voice in global affairs.
The treaty replaces a more ambitious draft constitution that EU leaders drew up to govern a bloc whose membership has expanded from 15 to 27 nations in recent years. That charter was rejected by French and ...   more »