European Union leaders agreed at a summit today to give Ireland time to digest a "No" vote to the EU's reform treaty after Prime Minister Brian Cowen said it was too soon to suggest a way out.
After Britain raised EU spirits by ratifying the treaty in parliament, most of the other eight countries still to endorse it vowed to go ahead. But delays in the Czech Republic and Poland cast further doubt on a pact backers say is vital to overhaul the bloc's institutions.
The 27 leaders were determined to show voters the EU is not paralysed and is addressing their key concerns at the summit, notably surging food and oil prices, although no immediate policy decisions were likely.
"The most important issue here is that Europe is tackling the real problems of real people," said Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, whose proposal for an EU tax on commodity speculation was one of several ideas on the table.
France has complained that perceived EU inaction on the distress of fishermen, farmers and truckers was a factor in the Irish vote, but a call by President Nicolas Sarkozy for a cap on fuel tax was widely dismissed.
Cowen and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Ireland should not be pushed into a corner on the treaty. Both ducked questions about the prospects of persuading the Irish to vote again, an option widely canvassed in Brussels.
"We also agreed it is necessary for Ireland to have time now to analyse last week's vote and explore options," Cowen said. "It is far too early yet for anybody to put forward proposals."
The treaty, designed to give the Union stronger leadership, a more efficient decision-making system and a bigger global say, can only take effect if ratified by all 27 members.
Options mooted include offering assurances to the Irish that the Lisbon Treaty will not undermine their cherished neutrality, deprive them of a commissioner in Brussels, make abortions easier or raise taxes -- and then asking them to vote again, as happened once before over an earlier EU treaty.
BINDING ASSURANCES
An official of Sinn Fein, at the heart of the "No" camp, told Reuters she could back a new treaty if binding assurances were given on neutrality, workers' rights and public services.
"In the event that the governments come back with a new treaty that addresses the issues of concern ... I will personally argue for us to support that treaty," said Mary Lou McDonald, an EU lawmaker for the nationalist party.
However, a binding protocol would require new treaty negotiations and fresh ratification. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "The options are broader than that. They don't include renegotiation."
Barroso warned that adapting the treaty would be "extremely difficult" and said he expected more talks at an October summit, by which time France will hold the rotating EU presidency.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out a "two-speed Europe" after calls from European federalists such as Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
But the way ahead is uncertain with the Czech Republic having stalled ratification pending a constitutional court ruling not due before October, and Poland's Eurosceptical president holding up signing the bill approved by parliament.
A Czech diplomat said Prague would resist any summit statement calling for ratification to continue.
The main Polish conservative opposition party said the Irish "No" vote could mean the plan will go the same way as the defunct EU constitution it was due to replace, killed off by French and Dutch "No" votes in 2005.
The Irish setback gave more impetus to the summit session on responding to surges in fuel and food prices that have hit the pockets of half a billion EU citizens.
A senior French official said Sarkozy would ask for the right to cap value-added tax on petrol and use VAT surpluses from higher oil prices to help fishermen, farmers and truckers.
The leaders of Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the EU's energy commissioner all dismissed that idea before the summit began.
EU finance ministers are opposed to tax measures that stop consumers and businesses adjusting to long-term dear energy.