17/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The federal government and the six federated entities of Belgium (three regions, three communities) pledged, on 16 January, to ratify the Lisbon Treaty before the 2008 summer break. Thus, Belgium wants to demonstrate its willingness, as a founding member, to play a continuing role as a precursor of European integration in years to come, a press release from the services of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt explains. (H.B.)