15,000 people sign petition to stop Lisbon Treaty ratification in just one day
18 June 2008
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New Open Europe briefing on Ireland
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UK Government aims to have Lisbon Treaty ratified tomorrow morning – MEPs back rapid ratification strategy to isolate the Irish
The European Parliament yesterday backed continued ratification of the Treaty. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-leader of the Green Party observed that, "If we have 26 countries having ratified, then the Irish will be obliged to give answers on what they want to do… Countries could not have their cake and eat it by pocketing the benefits of
According to the Irish Independent, Charlie McCreevy,
He is quoted in the Irish Independent as saying: "It'd be absolutely an outrage that in an international agreement, in which it was clearly understood that everyone must ratify per their procedures, that any member state would be so bullied. That will not happen. The EU is not about that." McCreevy hinted that new arrangements or changes to the governance of the EU could be made, but it was too early to do so yet until a "listening process" took place.
French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet has said, “The best response the French Presidency can bring to the worries which have just been expressed is to make in
In an interview with Le Figaro Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says “If Dublin does not decide to organise another referendum, it will be difficult to find a solution. We are waiting for the Irish government to tell us whether this decision is definitive of not. For the moment, the ratification process must continue.”
The FT reports that the Irish No vote may not be the only “complication” threatening to “delay” the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. It notes that the Czech constitutional court will deliver a verdict on the Treaty towards the end of the year, whilst President Kaczinski of
A poll for Open Europe of 1,000 UK voters found that 54 per cent agreed with the statement “the Government should drop the
Simon Jenkins also mentions the poll in his Guardian comment piece: “A YouGov poll yesterday indicated support for full EU membership in
The Times has been given an advance copy of an EU Commission poll conducted after the Irish No vote. Asked to give one reason for voting “no”, 40 per cent blamed the fact that they did not understand the Treaty, 20 per cent said it was to protect Irish identity, 17 per cent that they did not trust politicians, 10 per cent to keep Irish neutrality, 10 per cent to keep the country’s Commissioner and 8 per cent to protect the tax system.
Bruno Waterfield of the Telegraph notes on his blog that the poll found that 75 per cent of No voters “believe the Irish Government can renegotiate exceptions”. He sees this as suggestive that the EU will try and make Ireland have a second referendum.
In an article in the Financial Times Deutschland, Junker criticised the German and French leadership for hinting that ratification could go forward despite the Irish 'no' vote.
According to EUreferendum, Commissioner Margot Wallstrom admitted on her blog on Monday that the Irish no vote means the Treaty cannot be ratified – contradicting the assertions of Commission President Barroso. However, she subsequently edited the entry to change its meaning.
Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams has an article in the Guardian arguing that whilst the Irish vote should be respected, a working group should be set up to bring the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty into force. She also suggests an EU education programme for British children: “the council should invite each member to report on what steps it has taken to include education in citizenship, both national and European, in school curriculums.
Le Figaro Le Figaro 2 AFP FT Reuters Times Express Mail Heathcote Amory Mail BBC BBC Mardell Telegraph AFP Irish Times EUobserver EUobserver 2 EUobserver Laming Guardian Jenkins Euractiv FT Deutschland Junker EUreferendum Irish Independent Irish Independent 2 Irish Independent 3 Irish Independent 4 Irish Independent 5 Irish Independent 6 Guardian Williams EUreferendum
Sarkozy unveils plans for EU defence;
French Defence Minister says talks with
There is wide coverage of Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech yesterday in which he announced an overhaul of French defence policy, including a 24% cut in the strength of the French army to pay for new equipment and expanded intelligence systems, and a plan to rejoin NATO’s military structures. Sarkozy insisted, however, that French re-entry into NATO must be matched by progress towards a European defence system. He said, “In my mind, there can only be progress in integrating France within Nato if there is prior progress in European defence.” Sarkozy renewed calls for a "modern, flexible" European force of 60,000 soldiers that could be deployed anywhere in the world for up to a year. EUobserver quotes him saying, “building European defence is our priority.” He said he wants to make defence and security policy an example of a "concrete
Sarkozy said that there was an urgent need to raise and co-ordinate
According to EUosberver he noted that national armies would remain so as they cannot be integrated into a "supranational army." However, the Mail and the Sun report on French plans for an EU Navy, with the Sun quoting French Defence Minister Hervé Morin who insisted talks with Gordon Brown’s Government about creating such a force are “well-advanced.” The paper notes that Sarkozy wants to put a British aircraft carrier at the core of it, meaning either HMS Ark Royal or HMS Illustrious would be permanently at sea, directed by Brussels and flying the European flag instead of the White Ensign. The paper notes that “The plan would also put 1,000 Navy personnel and some Harrier jump jets and Sea King helicopters at the EU’s beck and call.” A French defence ministry official said other countries, including
Independent Times leader Times Sun Mail EUobserver El Pais Guardian Le Figaro Le Monde
Commission pushes for common immigration and asylum policies
Yesterday the European Commission approved two new policy documents – one calling for greater coordination of immigration policies between member states and the EU and the strengthening of external borders and another proposing to create a European Support Office on Asylum and measures to help member states that attract large numbers of refugees. According to the document, that could involve the re-location of asylum-seekers from one member state to another “in cases of exceptional asylum pressure”. An EU-wide resettlement scheme, in which members would participate on a voluntary basis, is also envisaged. In addition, the policy document calls for greater harmonisation of the asylum legislation of member states dealing with reception conditions for asylum-seekers, asylum procedures and the criteria that asylum applicants need to meet to obtain asylum status.
The Mirror reports that Conservative MP Bill Cash yesterday applied to the High Court for a ruling that the
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