The possibility of a "no" vote in the Irish referendum on the reforming Lisbon treaty has put pressure on a number of European heads of government, who are keen to see the reforms passed.
French PM Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country will take the six monthly chair of the European Union on July 1, has admitted a negative vote in the Republic of Ireland may derail his country's reform agenda for the EU and has promised a joint response with outgoing president Angela Merkel in the event of such an outcome.
Embattled U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has refused to consider a referendum for the British people, arguing it does not have constitutional implications, is facing a court challenge designed to force a referendum on the issue.
He may well come under added pressure to abandon the Treaty's ratification, reports the International Herald Tribune.
"Brown could come under strong pressure to abandon the treaty's ratification, now in its final stages in the British Parliament, and declare the EU's attempts to reform itself over," Hugo Brady, research fellow at the Center for European Reform in London, said in a policy paper.
"If the treaty is abandoned, EU countries are likely to give up on attempts to ratify wide-ranging reform treaties, preferring instead the ease of working more closely together through avant-garde groups on matters such as defense, foreign policy or taxation."
The Lisbon treaty which, according to the BBC, "...paves the way for greater European integration, an EU presidency and the abolition of a host of national vetoes, will effectively be killed off if Ireland votes "no" as it must be passed unanimously by all 27 states.
";?>
Leave a comment