BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Commission on Tuesday welcomed Hungary's ratification of the new EU treaty urging the other 26 EU nations to soon follow suit.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday's vote in the Hungarian parliament was one for "a more effective, democratic, transparent and stronger European Union."

The legislature approved the new EU Treaty — a stripped-down version of the European Constitution that never won the endorsement of the whole bloc — only four days after the EU leaders had signed the charter in Lisbon, Portugal.

The other 26 EU nations have until June, 2009, to ratify the new treaty. Ireland will hold a referendum while other countries will, like Hungary, let their parliaments decide.