The treaty created 2 new posts – President of the European Council and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Its ratification was hailed as “a new era for Europe” by the Prime Minister of current EU presidency holder Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt, and was also welcomed by the European Commission.

“The Treaty of Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. I'm delighted that we now have the right institutions to act and a period of stability, so that we can focus all our energy on delivering what matters to our citizens,” Commission President José Manuel Barroso said.

The treaty came into force almost 8 years after it was first put together and it overcame the final hurdle when the Czech Republic became the last member state to ratify it earlier last month.

The EU leaders then chose Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy to be the first EU Council president.

The job of the foreign policy affairs chief went to EU trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton. She will take over from Javier Solana who left his post today after 10 years in the role.

The ratification was also welcomed by the EPP Group in the European Parliament, whose chairman Joseph Daul also welcomed the nominations to the new EU top jobs.

Socialists and Democrats group leader Martin Schulz, meanwhile, described the ratification as a “historic day for democracy”.

The treaty was also welcomed by the Liberals and the Greens, the next 2 largest groups in the EP.

Maltese Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, meanwhile, stressed that the treaty provided a stronger voice to EU citizens, pointing out that through the newly-instituted Citizens' Initiative, a million citizens from a significant amount of EU countries can force the Commission to submit a proposal on a particular issue.

He also welcomed the fact that Malta would retain a guaranteed post at the European Commission and that its European Parliament representation would increase.

The Nationalist Party also issued a statement in the evening, welcoming the treaty as something that would  make the EU more efficient and closer to its citizens.

"It will provide countries, especially small member states like Malta, with a stronger voice in its decision-making process," it said.

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