Ireland rejects the Lisbon Treaty!

news.bbc.co.uk...

ITN - Friday, June 13 05:47 pmIreland has plunged the European Union into chaos by rejecting the Lisbon Treaty.

(Advertisement)
The result puts plans to overhaul the European Union's institutions in peril and is a humiliating result for Ireland's political leaders.

The result of the vote was announced at Dublin Castle in the Irish capital amid jubilant scenes from a crowd of 'No' voters.

Official results revealed 53.4 per cent opposed the pact and 46.6 per cent voted in favour of it.

The count showed 862,415 people voted 'No' while 752,451 voted 'Yes'. Turnout was 53.1 per cent of the electorate.

The victory means a country with fewer than 1 per cent of the EU's 490 million population could derail a treaty negotiated over years by leaders of all 27 member states.

Ireland is one of the most pro-European countries in the bloc and the only one to hold a referendum on the treaty, which replaces an EU constitution rejected by Dutch and French voters in 2005.

The treaty, intended to make the EU stronger and more effective, had the backing of the three main political parties in Ireland, which has prospered under EU membership. Farmers' groups, businesses and many unions also backed it.

Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, the only party to oppose the Lisbon accord, said: "I think that's a very positive thing. "It was very much a David and Goliath contest - and in this case Goliath lost again."

Referendums expert Professor Matt Qvortrup said the legal position is that the treaty will collapse if any member state votes it down.

But officials in France, which takes over the EU presidency in weeks, have said work on the treaty could continue.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged other EU states into ratifying the treaty after the surprise 'No' vote was confirmed.

Eighteen countries have already ratified the Lisbon Treaty and it was due to come into force on January 1 if all nations agreed.

reply to post by Lizard1


Can you please explain to me in laymen's terms the following -


What is this Lisbon Treaty ? What does it mean if Ireland refuse to sign it ?

How does this affect me living in Scotland ?

Thanks

The Treaty of Lisbon (also known as the Reform Treaty) is a treaty created to alter how the European Union (EU) works ... basically how countries vote to implement directives and regulations concerning European laws and provisions which are applicable in Ireland, the UK and other member states ...

The Lisbon Treaty proposed to take more power away from national governments and reduce their voting power in the European parliament and the Council ..... effectively taking away countries power to veto changes in their national laws...

The provisions of the Lisbon Treaty aimed to turn the EU into a Federation of States akin to the US structure ....

Nationality down the pan ! but Ireland halted the whole thing! Paddy Power !!!!!!!!!!!



[edit on 15-6-2008 by Lizard1]

[edit on 15-6-2008 by Lizard1]

reply to post by Lizard1



Thats mostly what wikipedia says but I get it now. They want to make a President of the European Council, which according to wikipedia is only a low-key unofficial position at the moment which rotates between member states every 6 months. Heres the interesting bit -

"Under the proposed Treaty of Lisbon, this system would be replaced by a permanent two and a half year post. If the new treaty is agreed as planned, the first permanent President would be appointed in 2009. The new position has been touted as the "President of the European Union".[1]

The exact nature of the new post is uncertain, no formal powers are granted and its relationship with other major posts is unclear. Its influence and role will largely be decided by the nature of the first person to occupy the post."

If someone with enemies gets there then we may end up with another war.

precisely what needs to be avoided ....

Erin Go Bragh!!!!!! keep on sticking it to the man.

Well well, at first one American State is declaring some form of independence and now this..

Interesting times..

Whats on the news?
Anything but these two stories right?