http://www.openeurope.org.ukThe latest daily press summaries from Open Europe(c) 2008 Open Europe. All rights reserved.5There is widespread coverage of the Commission’s reintroduction of the Health Directive, which would allow patients to be reimbursed by their national health services for treatment in another member state. The Times reports that more than 50 Labour MPs have signed a Commons motion protesting that only the wealthy will be able to make use of the proposal because the cost needs to be paid up front.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62703 July 2008 Europe EUobserver reports that Polish President Lech Kaczynski has played down the comments he made yesterday, in which he said that signing the Lisbon Treaty is “pointless” following the Irish ‘no’ vote. PAP reports that during a visit to Georgia, Kaczynski said, "If the Irish change their mind, not under pressure, but of their own free will, there will not be the slightest obstacle to ratification from the Polish side.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62602 July 2008The Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, has indicated he will not sign the Lisbon Treaty, in the aftermath of the Irish No vote. He also refuted claims that the EU cannot function without the Lisbon Treaty. Polish daily Dziennik quotes Kaczynski as saying, "For now, the treaty question is pointless.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62501 July 2008Europe The Sunday Times reported that 200 MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP), including several British MEPs, will this week go on a three-day trip to Paris, costing taxpayers up to £200,000. The trip, described as “study days” to discuss security issues and an opportunity for MEPs to leave their normal Brussels working environment, will include dinner at the Palais de Versailles, cocktail lunches and a champagne boat trip down the Seine.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62430 June 2008 EUobserver reports that Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer has said that if any changes are made to the Lisbon Treaty then it should be put to a referendum in his country. In a letter to daily Kronen Zeitung he said: “We think any future changes to the treaty that affect Austrian interests must be decided in Austria by a referendum.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62327 June 2008Europe Joschka Fischer: Rejection of Lisbon Treaty means member states have control over foreign policy again; French plans to give EU "real military credibility" - European helicopter fleet gets go-ahead In an op-ed in Dagens Nyheter, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer condemns the Irish no vote.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62226 June 2008 Stuart Wheeler today lost his High Court battle over the Government's refusal to hold a referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Two judges rejected his claim that he had a "legitimate expectation" that there would be a public vote. Their ruling was based in particular on the fact that “Parliament has addressed the question whether there should be a referendum and, in passing the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, has decided against one.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62125 June 2008 The Swedish Council on Legislation (Lagrådet) has in a legal opinion concluded that the Lisbon Treaty is “essentially equivalent to the EU Constitution”. The Council is the legal expert body responsible for evaluating the compatibility between legislative proposals and the Swedish Constitution.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=62024 June 2008Europe Various blogs report on the discrepancy between a briefing note circulated to journalists by the EU Commission which claimed that 40% of Irish voters had voted no because they did not understand the Treaty, and the official results of the poll - released several days later - which revealed the figure to be just 22%.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=61823 June 2008 PA reports that Stuart Wheeler has attacked the Government for proceeding with the final, technical stage of ratification before the outcome of his legal bid to force a referendum. He said it was "disgraceful" that ministers appeared unwilling to wait a few weeks for lawyers to deliver their ruling on his case before completing the ratification process – which involves depositing the “instruments of ratification” in Rome.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=61720 June 2008