EU chiefs 'satisfied' with treaty

EU leaders have expressed measured approval of a draft treaty to reform EU systems agreed at a summit in Brussels.

---

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed a good compromise with Poland over planned changes to voting rights, which proved the key to the final agreement.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Europe was moving again, while British PM Tony Blair said the EU could now concentrate on issues of real concern.

The treaty, to be finalised later this year, will come into force in mid-2009.

Following marathon discussions which were at times on the brink of failure, leaders from the 27-member bloc emerged smiling at dawn on Saturday to announce the results.