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Sarkozy, Merkel want treaty ratification process to go on (Roundup)

Jun 13, 2008, 16:30 GMT

Paris - Reacting jointly to the Irish rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday they hoped that the treaty ratification process would continue. 'The Lisbon Treaty has been signed by the heads of state and government of 27 member states and the ratification process has been completed in 18 countries. We therefore hope that the other member states will pursue the ratification process,' the two leaders said in a statement. 'We are convinced that the reforms contained in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to make Europe more democratic and more efficient and that they will enable (Europe) to respond to the challenges confronting its citizens,' the joint statement read. The rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is a particularly hard blow for Sarkozy, who was instrumental in drafting it after the French rejected an EU constitution in a referendum. In addition, France assumes the rotating EU presidency on July 1 and will have to deal with the fallout of the Irish vote. In Beijing, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had also said the ratification process had to continue. In a statement released by his aides in Berlin, he called the result 'a serious setback' but said, 'I am convinced that we do need this treaty, a treaty that makes Europe more democratic, more able to act and more transparent. That it why we are sticking to our objective of putting it into effect. 'The ratification process has to go on. Together with our EU partners and our Irish friends, we are going to consider how we should deal with the situation that has arisen.'

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JC, DublinJun 13th, 2008 - 17:39:05

I voted yes. I did so because I believe that, whatever its failings (and it has many) the EU is the best bet for Ireland. Winston Churchill made a similar comment about democracy, saying in effect that however flawed it was, it was much better than any of the alternatives. Likewise the EU. Hitler mark two, anyone?
I was also keen not to be on the same side of the argument as the Shinners.
I suppose the Lisbon Treaty was Plan B and I assume that once the shock waves have subsided, a Plan C will emerge.
Many of those who voted no did so because they did not understand what they were being asked to vote for. There is a failure of political leadership here and the events at Dublin castle have made people even more cynical.
However, - and this needs stating in CAPITAL LETTERS - Ireland is still a country where a sizeable majority is in favour of the EU.

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