Athens - Greeces parliament overwhelmingly approved the European Unions reform proposing Treaty of Lisbon in vote Thursday.

Parliament approved the treaty with 250 in favor, mainly from the ruling conservative party and the main Socialist opposition, and 42 against. Eight people were absent from the vote in the 300-member parliament.

With the midnight vote, Greece becomes the 18th country to ratify the treaty. All 27 EU member countries must ratify the treaty for it to go into effect.

The Lisbon Treaty is set to replace a more ambitious draft constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 amid concerns that it might erode member states' sovereignty.

The Lisbon charter sets to reshape EU institutions and create potentially powerful new roles for an EU president and foreign policy chief. (dpa)