Hungary became the first of the 27 European Union countries to ratify the bloc's new reform treaty in a parliamentary vote tonight.
Hungarian legislators approved the treaty by 325 votes to 5 with 14 abstentions in the 386-member legislature.
"While there are often heated debates between the parties here in Hungary's parliament ... there is a fundamental agreement on the question whether Hungary's place is in the cooperation for European integration," Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said before the vote.
The treaty, signed by EU leaders last week, replaces a more ambitious constitution abandoned after French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005.
The treaty will allow more decisions to be taken by majority voting, notably on justice and security issues, and give more say to the European and national parliaments.
Under the terms of the Irish Constitution, Ireland will hold a referendum on the treaty in 2008.