Germany and France moved to isolate Ireland in the European Union yesterday, scrambling for ways to resuscitate the Lisbon Treaty a day after the Irish dealt the architects of the EU's new regime a crushing blow.

Prominent changes in the Treaty of Lisbon include reduced chances of stalemate in the EU Council through more qualified majority voting, a more significant European Parliament through extended codecision with the EU Council, scrapping of the pillar system, and the creation of a President of the European Council and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs for greater coherence and continuity in EU policies (see more below). If ratified, the Treaty of Lisbon would also make the Charter of Fundamental Rights (human rights provisions) legally binding.