World

E.U. in crisis after Irish “no” to Lisbon Treaty

by Maireid Sullivan | June 13, 2008 at 04:37 pm

202 views | 10 Recommendations | 4 comments

LONDON: The European Union was plunged into crisis on Friday after its controversial constitutional document, known as the Lisbon reforms treaty, was rejected by Ireland in a tense referendum. Finally, 53.4 per cent of the voters rejected the Treaty.

The “no” vote means that the Treaty, aimed at streamlining the functioning of the expanded E.U., will go back to the drawing board as under the rules it must be ratified by all the 27 member-states or it is deemed dead.

So far, most of the countries have ratified it and Britain is in the process of doing it, but with Ireland — the only country to have a referendum because of its own unique constitutional requirements — saying “no” it is thought to be doomed.

E.U. officials admitted that they had no “Plan B” to deal with the crisis.

Eurosceptics fear threat to Ireland’s independence

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

generaldecay

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 04:24 on June 14th, 2008

Maireid Sullivan, I'm GSing all your Lisbon stuff because I think it's really important.

Eurosceptics fear threat to Ireland’s independence

Why? This assertion isn't clear to me from the article.

Maireid Sullivan

at 19:29 on June 14th, 2008

Hi Gerald, I think it is because Ireland is a politically neutral state. ...the only one in the EU, I think.

This means they cannot participate in the war industry, which the Lisbon Treaty is all about developing.

Did you see that quote from Patricia McKenna?

You might appreciate hearing her full audio report, here:

http://www.livevideo.com/media/tag/patricia-mckenna-mep-.aspx

Jordan Yerman

at 07:46 on June 14th, 2008

Some additional coverage, which points to a perception of the Irish
voters as giving voice to the citizens across Europe who were frozen
out of the process:[q
url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7454333.stm"]

Governments
in the European Union are exploring what to do after the Irish
Republic's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty to reform the expanded EU.

France and Germany have described the "No" vote as a serious blow but urged the EU to press ahead with the project.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said ratifications must carry on so that the Irish vote did not "become a crisis".

But Czech President Vaclav Klaus said the treaty was finished, since any further ratification was impossible.

His is a lone voice among EU leaders, but his views will probably
resonate with many European voters who did not get a say in a
referendum, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.

The third failed referendum on an EU treaty in three years can
only be seen as a serious blow to the EU's credibility at home and
abroad, our correspondent adds.

[/q]

Maireid Sullivan

at 19:38 on June 14th, 2008

Hi Jordan, all of that is true. The rest of the EU citizens had no choice! Only Ireland's constitution demands a referendum, because Ireland is politically neutral - in terms of war alliances.

Anything to do with an external power over riding Irish independence and neutrality (EU) has to go to referendum.

I think the fact that the treaty was deliberately written to confuse readers also got through.

Patricia McKenna's brief audio report explains the 'hidden' plans to develop a war industry in EU, –here:

http://www.livevideo.com/media/tag/patricia-mckenna-mep-.aspx