The Slovakian government on Wednesday formally agreed to changes in the European Union's Lisbon treaty which will allow the establishment of a permanent eurozone bailout fund, dpa reported. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), agreed to by EU finance ministers in March, is to be the successor of the temporary 44-billion-euro (64-billion-dollar) European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The ESM is due to come into effect in 2013. However, the changes still need to be agreed to by the parliament, due to vote on the ESM and an extension of the EFSF in September. -- SPA