Irish "deal stunning blow" to EU reform plans

Irish voters dealt a stunning blow to the European Union's grand reform plans Friday by rejecting a new treaty. AFP reported the result had plunged the bloc into a new crisis. Irish "deal stunning blow" to EU reform plans The Lisbon Treaty, designed to replace the EU constitution torpedoed by French and Dutch voters three years ago, was rejected by 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent in a referendum, according to official figures. Despite gloomy predictions over the new effort to make the 27-nation group work, the European Commission insisted that the treaty was still "alive" and that EU leaders will discuss the crisis with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen at a summit next week. "The European Commission believes that the remaining ratifications should continue to take their course," the EU executive's chief Jose Manuel Barroso said in Brussels. He said he had spoken to Cowen and that the Irish premier "also believed the treaty is not dead, the treaty is alive." But Irish "no" campaigners insisted the referendum result was definitive, since all 27 EU members must ratify the treaty for it to come into effect. "The Lisbon treaty is finished," said Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, whose Republican movement was the only one in the Irish parliament to campaign against the EU treaty. Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a well-known eurosceptic, said the ratification process was "finished." Even Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, a fervent pro-European, said it was now "clear" that the Lisbon Treaty could not come into force on January 1, 2009 as planned. "This decision is not good for Ireland (and) not good for Europe," he said. In Dublin, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern called the vote "disappointing" but conceded: "For a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken." Opponents of the treaty began celebrating as early results showed that the "no" vote was going to win the day. "It is a great and proud day to be an Irishman and a European. It is a great day for democracy," said Irish tycoon Declan Ganley, who was a key figure in the "no" campaign ahead of Thursday's poll. Rejection leaves the EU - whose leaders meet in Brussels next week - facing a new crisis like that which followed the 2005 Franco-Dutch snub to the EU constitution. EU heavyweights France and Germany expressed regret over the Irish result, but voiced hope that other EU states will continue ratification of the text. "We take note of the democratic decision of the Irish citizens with all due respect, even though we regret it," French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement. Noting that the treaty had been ratified by 18 of the EU's 27 member states, the leaders added: "We therefore hope that the other member states will continue the process of ratification." Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said the result was "not good news", but said a solution would be found. Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said the Irish vote left an "uncertain situation" and cautioned "not to draw too hasty conclusions." Ireland has caused EU upsets before. In 2001, its voters rejected the Nice Treaty, a result overturned in a second poll the following year. Backers of the treaty, which aims to make EU decision-making more efficient, struggled to get their message across, despite a campaign backed by all bar one of the main political parties. With many Irish people complaining they did not understand what the treaty was about, pre-referendum opinion polls had placed the "yes" and "no" camps virtually neck-and-neck. But opponents rallied support around claims that the treaty threatens sensitive Irish policies like the ban on abortion, low corporation tax and military neutrality. Libertas, a group run by Ganley, and the left-wing Sinn Fein were among the most prominent "no" campaigners. Ganley had urged people to vote "no" so that Ireland can retain a stronger voice in Europe which he said would be wiped out by the treaty. Opposition Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore, who joined the ruling Fine Fail and Fine Gael parties in backing the treaty, admitted defeat. "The Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the voters in this country," he said, adding that it "cannot now be ratified because it requires unanimity across all 27 member states. "The Lisbon Treaty is dead," he said. Barroso speaks to reporters in Brussels today (Beta)

Irish "deal stunning blow" to EU reform plans

The Lisbon Treaty, designed to replace the EU constitution torpedoed by French and Dutch voters three years ago, was rejected by 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent in a referendum, according to official figures.

Despite gloomy predictions over the new effort to make the 27-nation group work, the European Commission insisted that the treaty was still "alive" and that EU leaders will discuss the crisis with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen at a summit next week.

"The European Commission believes that the remaining ratifications should continue to take their course," the EU executive's chief Jose Manuel Barroso said in Brussels.

He said he had spoken to Cowen and that the Irish premier "also believed the treaty is not dead, the treaty is alive."

But Irish "no" campaigners insisted the referendum result was definitive, since all 27 EU members must ratify the treaty for it to come into effect.

"The Lisbon treaty is finished," said Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, whose Republican movement was the only one in the Irish parliament to campaign against the EU treaty.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a well-known eurosceptic, said the ratification process was "finished."

Even Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, a fervent pro-European, said it was now "clear" that the Lisbon Treaty could not come into force on January 1, 2009 as planned.

"This decision is not good for Ireland (and) not good for Europe," he said.

In Dublin, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern called the vote "disappointing" but conceded: "For a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken."

Opponents of the treaty began celebrating as early results showed that the "no" vote was going to win the day.

"It is a great and proud day to be an Irishman and a European. It is a great day for democracy," said Irish tycoon Declan Ganley, who was a key figure in the "no" campaign ahead of Thursday's poll.

Rejection leaves the EU - whose leaders meet in Brussels next week - facing a new crisis like that which followed the 2005 Franco-Dutch snub to the EU constitution.

EU heavyweights France and Germany expressed regret over the Irish result, but voiced hope that other EU states will continue ratification of the text.

"We take note of the democratic decision of the Irish citizens with all due respect, even though we regret it," French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement.

Noting that the treaty had been ratified by 18 of the EU's 27 member states, the leaders added: "We therefore hope that the other member states will continue the process of ratification."

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said the result was "not good news", but said a solution would be found.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said the Irish vote left an "uncertain situation" and cautioned "not to draw too hasty conclusions."

Ireland has caused EU upsets before. In 2001, its voters rejected the Nice Treaty, a result overturned in a second poll the following year.

Backers of the treaty, which aims to make EU decision-making more efficient, struggled to get their message across, despite a campaign backed by all bar one of the main political parties.

With many Irish people complaining they did not understand what the treaty was about, pre-referendum opinion polls had placed the "yes" and "no" camps virtually neck-and-neck.

But opponents rallied support around claims that the treaty threatens sensitive Irish policies like the ban on abortion, low corporation tax and military neutrality.

Libertas, a group run by Ganley, and the left-wing Sinn Fein were among the most prominent "no" campaigners.

Ganley had urged people to vote "no" so that Ireland can retain a stronger voice in Europe which he said would be wiped out by the treaty.

Opposition Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore, who joined the ruling Fine Fail and Fine Gael parties in backing the treaty, admitted defeat.

"The Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the voters in this country," he said, adding that it "cannot now be ratified because it requires unanimity across all 27 member states.

"The Lisbon Treaty is dead," he said.