On 1 December 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon was ratified by the 27 states of the European Union, historically unifying its diplomatic, political, humanitarian, economic, and scientific strengths.

The EU is now the world’s largest trading bloc.

With around 500 million citizens, after China and India, it has the world’s third largest population.

The EU annually invests over Euro 100 Billion in research, science, technology and administration.

The signing of the Lisbon Treaty imposes a requirement, now, more than at any time in the past, for EU Ministers to be kept up to date with the latest information on a wide range of services and technologies and to be completely aware of opportunities for reducing expenditure and enhancing departmental efficiencies.