Irish vote? What Irish vote? Lisbon goes full steam ahead

[Oblivion]

[size=7]EU vows to pursue Lisbon treaty[/size]

BBC, Tuesday January 17th

"EU foreign ministers have agreed to keep the Lisbon reform treaty alive despite its rejection by Irish voters. The ministers said those EU members who have not yet ratified the treaty should carry on and do so. The ministers have been meeting in Luxembourg ahead of a two-day summit in Brussels, starting on Thursday, that is expected to chart the way ahead.

The Lisbon treaty provides for a streamlining of the European Commission, the removal of the national veto in more policy areas, a new president of the European Council and a strengthened foreign affairs post. It is due to come into force on 1 January 2009." (emphasis mine).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7458117.stm


^ ^ And to think, our friends at the politically-neutral BBC, don't seem even mildly disturbed that the Lisbon project is still very much a "go". In fact, they seem decidedly relieved.

Who on earth said the EU wasn't democratic, anyway? "Don't worry" they said before last week, "Nobody gets left behind. It's all 27... or none at all."

[moghroth]

It gives us a good idea of the strength of the promised WTO and Corporation Tax vetos.

[Howard Devotee]

The Lisbon Treaty is due to come into force on 1 January 2009. It will not do so unless all member states have ratified it by that date. Did I miss something? Is it January yet? No? Ok so, the process goes on..

[Oblivion]

The Lisbon Treaty is due to come into force on 1 January 2009. It will not do so unless all member states have ratified it by that date. Did I miss something? Is it January yet? No? Ok so, the process goes on..

No, it isn't January yet - which means the Euro darlings have another 6 months to think up as many legal tricks as they can muster. Within hours of hearing the result on Friday, that was clearly the direction they were taking. Lisbon is going ahead - whether people want to admit that or not - they'll find a way around the rules to implement the European Constitution aka Lisbon.

Do you really think they're going to throw away 8 years hard work?



"Hmm.... what to do now with zees pesky Irish? Shall we make an example of zem?"

"I sink we'd better - before any ozzers get any ideas!"

[FutureTaoiseach]

Note this part of the article:

"The discussion here is whether in case of the Irish No it is even possible and legitimate to continue ratification," Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said after talks in Prague with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

So it's not a done deal.

[Oblivion]

Note this part of the article:

"The discussion here is whether in case of the Irish No it is even possible and legitimate to continue ratification," Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said after talks in Prague with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

So it's not a done deal.

Sarkozy and Merkel have made it clear that Lisbon will go ahead - no matter what.

If anything, the Irish No vote has made them push to accelerate the ratification of Lisbon in the other 26. The sooner it's done, the less of an opportunity window there is for hardened opposition to form.

The next big test will come next week when the British House of Lords decides on Lisbon in the UK. If they give the go ahead, the Lisbon architects will breath a huge sigh of relief. If not, it will provide official confirmation that Ireland has started the dominos falling. It will be an absolutely crucial moment.

It's up to the UK and the Czechs now, to scupper this whole thing. If they don't - and quickly - Ireland will be isolated and Lisbon will go ahead - perhaps not in the exact form of today, but ahead nonetheless.

[NotDevsSon]

Note this part of the article:

"The discussion here is whether in case of the Irish No it is even possible and legitimate to continue ratification," Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said after talks in Prague with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

So it's not a done deal.

Ah yes, the Czechs. Like their nut of a president who thinks the EU is a Communist conspiracy! :mrgreen:

Oh and BTW there is no requirement in EC law to stop the ratification process. Ireland for example ratified Maastricht AFTER Danish rejection.

[evercloserunion]

Is there any actual precedent to suggest that the EU would blatantly ignore the democratically expressed will of one of its member states?

[MacCoise]

Is there any actual precedent to suggest that the EU would blatantly ignore the democratically expressed will of one of its member states?

Let me check with my Dutch and French friends........


They said Yes

[Eddiepops]

There are many many many similar threasds. Stop starting threads on discussions that already exist.