Lisbon Treaty comes into effect

After a lengthy ratification process, the European Union's Lisbon Treaty comes into effect on Tuesday. A celebration ceremony will be held in Portugal's capital, Lisbon.

The EU's first permanent president, Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, will both attend the ceremony.

The Lisbon Treaty is expected to increase the powers of the European Parliament and speed up the EU's decision-making.

It also aims to enhance the powers of the union's foreign policy chief and boost integration among EU's member states.