Ratifying Lisbon Treaty - Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed confidence yesterday that the EU would succeed in implementing the Lisbon Treaty despite a rejection of the reform document by Irish voters in June.

Leaders will discuss the way forward for the treaty, designed to ease decision-making in the 27-nation bloc, at an EU summit on December 11 and 12, she said.

"I believe that we will manage to put into effect the Lisbon Treaty," Ms Merkel told the German lower house of Parliament. Despite her unusually confident tone, she gave no time frame. The Chancellor held talks with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen in Berlin late on Wednesday which covered the future of the reform treaty. Ms Merkel, who played a leading role in laying the groundwork for the treaty during Germany's EU presidency last year, said there were positive signs coming from countries that still had to ratify the treaty, including Ireland and the Czech Republic.

"Ireland is working intensively on ratifying the treaty and we support their efforts," said Ms Merkel.

An Irish parliamentary committee said last month the country could legally hold a second referendum after the Irish "no" vote dealt the EU a heavy blow.

The Czech Republic is also moving ahead with ratification after its Constitutional Court ruled the treaty conformed with Czech law in response to a legal challenge from Parliament's Upper House.

The Treaty is a central plank of the EU's efforts to modernise its institutions which have become unwieldy in the last few years due to the accession of countries especially from central and eastern Europe.