Important future dates for the treaty.
An intergovernmental conference will be convened on July 23rd, when diplomats will finalise the text of a new treaty based on the tight mandate agreed by EU leaders.
At the October or December European Council, EU leaders will sign the treaty.
All 27 EU states will then begin a ratification process either through national parliaments or by referendum, to pass the treaty before the next European elections in May 2009.