EU gives Irish referendum guarantees
The European Union agreed today to offer the Irish government legal guarantees on national sovereignty to help secure voters' backing for the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, EU diplomats said.
The guarantees, to be rubber-stamped by EU leaders meeting in Brussels, are intended to assure Irish voters who rejected the treaty in a referendum last year that Ireland's policy on matters ranging from military neutrality to abortion will be untouched by the treaty.
Dublin is expected to hold a new referendum by early October on the treaty, which would reform decision making in the EU and requires the backing of all member states to take effect.
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D.Caruana
Jun 19th 2009, 12:28
WOW!!!
We all know what the EU's word is worth!
Ask the hunters!!!
I urge the Irish to make the EU crawl and beg on its knees!!
Malta had its chance!
Rebecca Sultana
Jun 19th 2009, 11:59
Will our similar policies "on matters ranging from military neutrality to abortion will be untouched by the treaty" also, even though Malta voted YES?
John Borg
Jun 19th 2009, 11:50
it shows that when a state goverment keep strong in his position whatever it is the EU has to bow and accept the peoples will.
What happened to our neutrality? Is what the EU is accepting by saying that it will be untouched by the Lisbon Treaty is for the Irish people only or to any country in EU?
We wait and see as always.
J Farrugia
Jun 19th 2009, 11:50
why is it that the EC have accepted to give guarantees to Irelandto steal the Irish votes, while refusing to keep its word about hunting and trappping in Malta? This is just double face talk by the EU to trick the Irish in voting for the Lisbon Treaty. And why didn't our PM object to this tomfoolery by the EU with regards to such guarantees. The EU should never have a say in matters which concern morality and national interests. I only hope that this treaty will never be approved by the Irish voters.