[JURIST] The National Assembly of Bulgaria [official website] Friday voted 195-15 to approve the new EU reform treaty [JURIST news archive], properly known as the Treaty of Lisbon [official website; PDF text]. Ten members of the nationalist Ataka party [party website] and five independent MPs voted against ratification, calling instead for a nationwide referendum. Bulgaria is the sixth EU member to ratify the treaty, after Romania, Malta, France, Hungary, and Slovenia [JURIST reports].

Leaders from the 27 countries that make up the European Union signed the reform treaty [JURIST report] in December, but all member countries must ratify the document before it can take effect. AP has more. The Sofia Echo has local coverage.