Ireland OKs EU reform treaty

Sunday 04th October, 02:58 AM JST

BRUSSELS —

Ireland’s “yes” to an EU reform treaty capped a two-decade, roller-coaster ride to expand the union after the Cold War and widen its powers.

The experience has been so troubled that relief in EU capitals was palpable when Irish voters approved the 2007 Lisbon Treaty on Saturday—16 months after rejecting it in a first vote.

But there are still hurdles ahead.

Politicians in Poland and the Czech Republic question the legality of changes enacted to get Ireland on board. After the 2008 Irish “no,” Dublin won guarantees the EU will not gut its traditional neutrality, abortion ban or tax powers.

And experts say that even if the treaty is passed by all member nations, EU governments may lack the political will to take full advantage of reforms such as freer trade, a highly contentious issue in Europe.

A successfully reformed European Union would have a president, a single foreign policy chief instead of two, less red tape and a European Parliament with more power over legislation. For the first time, the assembly gets a say in drafting the EU budget.

European voters able to collect 1 million signatures will be able force the EU to draft new rules. And if a country is fed up with the EU, it can leave the club unilaterally.

The Lisbon Treaty approved by Ireland Saturday is hailed as a big step toward an EU more effective, more accountable and ready to take on international issues—such as climate change, financial reforms and international trade—with the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India and other global players.

Pierre Moscovici, a former French deputy foreign minister, said the treaty alone will not lead to change, however.

“What if EU governments disagree on what fair trade means? There is clearly much work to be done by European political leaders, if they are to take advantage of the Lisbon treaty’s full potential.”

The structure of the EU has been the subject of nonstop debate for almost 20 years. In the early 1990s, it was over a single currency and a common foreign policy.

This was followed by a tortuous, still ongoing wrangle over immigration matters as several governments are loath to cede border control to the EU. And then there was the drafting of a European Constitution, an overly ambitious undertaking that French and Dutch voters rejected in separate referenda in 2005.

“Europeans citizens are tired of these recurrent discussions” over European integration, Moscovici said.

He suggests a pause, saying endless tinkering with the EU has led to an “estrangement between the European Union and public opinions across Europe.”

After the Irish vote, EU officials said they will push Poland and the Czech Republic to remove legal hurdles in those countries that prevent them from completing the treaty’s ratification.

EU officials will meet with Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer on Wednesday. Half a dozen Czech lawmakers have filed a legal challenge against the Lisbon Treaty that prevents President Vaclav Klaus from endorsing the parliament’s ratification.

EU officials see political motives. “In the end, President Klaus will sign the treaty,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Saturday.

Last week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned of unspecified “consequences” for the Czech Republic if Klaus continues to withhold his signature.

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15 Comments

BobbieWickham at 01:34 PM JST - 4th October

Why would Ireland after spending 700 years plus gaining independence give it all away so cheaply?
Mayuki at 06:53 PM JST - 4th October

Depressing news.
bushlover at 06:59 PM JST - 4th October

Bobbie, it's because this time they have a choice, a vote, on the matter. It's not shoved down their throats by condescending English "gentlemen".
Foxie at 07:35 PM JST - 4th October

Great news that they adopted the treaty eventually. Let's just hope the Czechs will do the same.
LIBERTAS at 08:38 PM JST - 4th October

Only thing about this, ironically, is that an Irish "Yes" vote Friday now paves the way for, get this, Tony Blair to be crowned President of Europe. The Irish just voted to be led by Phony Tony! Sad!
DickMorris at 10:20 PM JST - 4th October

Why no mention of the Brits? They don`t want this treaty and the population are so against the treaty PM Brown is running scared of a referendum.
dammit at 11:46 PM JST - 4th October

Shame on you, Ireland.

You have the right to vote on EU things like this, unlike your neighbours in Britain. And what do you keep doing? You say a great big NO! at first, making sure everyone knows your mind. And then they ask you again and what do you do? You say "yes sir. Whatever you say sir."

Why the hell do you always have to capitulate? What's the point saying no in the first place when you always give in so easily? Heck, what's the point in you having the right to vote on these things if you obey the government in the end anyway?

Shame on you.
sappquest at 11:48 PM JST - 4th October

That's democracy for you...when you don't get the vote you want, give them a referendum again, and again and again...
Nessie at 12:39 AM JST - 5th October

It won't be long before Europe is after Ireland's lucky charms.
realist at 12:46 AM JST - 5th October

A sad day for Ireland, a sad day for all Europeans, and a sad day for democracy. This paves the way for a European Super State with Antoinette Blair as the "President." He will be unelected and unaccountable. Many Europeans have had no say in this "treaty." Its being forced down our throats. As a Brit - I dont want it, I dont want the Euro, I dont want the EU, and I certainly dont want anything to do with Antoinette Blair.
realist at 12:47 AM JST - 5th October

dammit My sentinments excactly.
bushlover at 07:19 AM JST - 5th October

[? Heck, what's the point in you having the right to vote on these things if you obey the government in the end anyway?] --- The point is they weighed the pros and cons and probably came up that the pros outweighed the cons and so voted appropriately. What is it with you liberal types that always blame the government for things and say you shouldn't obey the government but yet you live in your respective countries and benefit from any programs your country's government has in place for you. It's called hypocritical. That's how I find the global liberal "resist anything the government does." type of conspiracy theorists.
WayneRooney10 at 12:46 PM JST - 5th October

I'm all for it. To hear Tony Blair, the President of all Europe, speaking to us in French is like a dream come true for me and Coleen.
BobbieWickham at 03:17 PM JST - 5th October

United States of Europe here we come. We too will have a Supreme Court to make all the important decisions. What worthwhile democracy would allow the plebs to decide anything? A democratic decision so long as Bushlover etc. agrees with it. Ireland had no choice. If the answer had been 'no' again this time there would have been another vote and another and another until the stupid Irish people got it right. That's how democracy works. That's how 'liberals' operate. Liberal is everything they agree with.
bushlover at 09:22 AM JST - 6th October

Ireland sees the benefits of a "United States" type of union. They look west and see the symbol of power. Not east and the remnants of a once powerful naval power that is now suffering in the growing pains of turning it's own country over to the muslim immigrants. The real Europeans are who the Irish want to be with. They have seen the light of strength in a union. Britain will never learn from it's wars of the 20th century that it is not good to go it alone. Maybe one day they will become one with the United States of America and along with Canada it will become "The United States of the North Atlantic". That has a nice ring to it. USNA. Then they can get rid of that outdated monarchy system and they will learn what it is like to be true citizens of the world. They'll follow the Irish. Mark my words.