The European Parliament Press Service will be worth watching as the new EP takes shape. The Press Service offers news both of developments in the institution itself and of Parliament's activities - which at some point will include confirming (or not!) the new European Commission President and College of Commissioners.

This week, Eric was asked what's happening with the Treaty of Lisbon:

The short answer is ‘nothing yet’. The longer answer is that Ireland is to hold a second referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon, on 2 October. This follows agreement by EU leaders to give Ireland a number of guarantees in response to Irish concerns regarding the Treaty. These were decided at the European Council on 18-19 June, and concern a range of issues including taxation policy, military neutrality and ‘the right to life’ (i.e. ‘abortion’).

Full details were set out in a Decision annexed to the Presidency Conclusions. A ‘Solemn Declaration on workers’ rights, social policy and other issues’ was also annexed - as was a Declaration by Ireland, concerning its neutrality.

The European Council also agreed that, once the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force (if it does!), a decision will be taken 'to the effect that the Commission shall continue to include one national of each Member State.' Cutting the number of Commissioners had been seen as one of the steps required to make the Union more manageable; Ireland’s insistence that it should retain a Commissioner clearly forced a change of heart.