European Union leaders broke through years of deadlock on a failed constitution and agreed to a reform treaty they hope will allow the bloc to focus its attention on issues such as climate change and energy security.

“What counts for me is that we have emerged from paralysis,” said Angela Merkel, German chancellor. She was confident the treaty – which will introduce a full-time EU president, a beefed-up foreign affairs chief and a new voting system – would come into force in 2009.