25/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on 21 March, the Slovenian EU Council Presidency welcomed ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Bulgarian parliament. “Without any doubt the European Union will become more effective, transparent and democratic with the Lisbon Treaty”, said the EU Council Presidency. The same day, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, also welcomed approval of the text by Bulgaria, where he is to go next week. Bulgaria is the sixth EU member state to complete the ratification process of the new EU Treaty to take effect on 1 January 2009 (for the state of ratification preparedness of the other countries, see EUROPE 9627). (A.B.)