Brussels, 07/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The signing ceremony of the European Union Reform Treaty by 27 heads of state and government, and the formal European Council at the end of the year (bringing together the same leaders) will take place on the same day, 13 December, but at two different places: the signing will take place in Lisbon, and the opening of the European summit in Brussels (in the early evening). Immediately after the political agreement on the new treaty on 19 October in Lisbon (EUROPE 9527), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (apparently supported by France, Italy and the United Kingdom) suggested (as an exception) that the December European Council be held in the Portuguese capital, in an effort to combine the two events. The aim is to avoid an immense travelling “circus” (delegations, technical staff, press) and high CO2 emissions (experts, quoted in the British press have already calculated that the planes used for transport between Lisbon and Brussels would emit up to 15 additional tonnes of CO2). The Belgian prime minister, however, Guy Verhofstadt, opposed this on 19 October, explaining that Brussels had the right to host all the formal European Councils (EUROPE 9527). A spokesperson explained that the Portuguese presidency of the EU sees no reason in changing the “well established practice” whereby the EU treaty is signed “in the place where the political agreement was obtained”. It is therefore normal that the “Treaty of Lisbon” is signed in the Portuguese capital. The spokesperson explained that whilst respecting the Belgian position, the Portuguese presidency is not asking for the European Council of Lisbon to be relocated to Lisbon. As for the financial and environmental costs of the operation, “this is the price to pay for a new treaty”. (HB)