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EU meeting on Irish No aftermath EU meeting on Irish No aftermath
(about 5 hours later)
European Union foreign ministers are gathering in Luxembourg for talks on how to respond to the Irish rejection of the Lisbon reform treaty.European Union foreign ministers are gathering in Luxembourg for talks on how to respond to the Irish rejection of the Lisbon reform treaty.
Voters in the Irish Republic, the only state to hold a referendum on Lisbon, rejected the treaty by 53.4% to 46.6% last Thursday.Voters in the Irish Republic, the only state to hold a referendum on Lisbon, rejected the treaty by 53.4% to 46.6% last Thursday.
The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states.The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states.
But the majority of EU members agree that those who have yet to ratify the treaty should carry on and do so.But the majority of EU members agree that those who have yet to ratify the treaty should carry on and do so.
Various EU leaders have made public statements since the treaty's defeat and the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond says a number of different ideas have emerged on what to do next.
People are still stupefied by the decision of the Irish, we need to wait for the clearing of everybody's brains Andrew Duff UK Liberal Democrat member of the European ParliamentPeople are still stupefied by the decision of the Irish, we need to wait for the clearing of everybody's brains Andrew Duff UK Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament
While foreign ministers will perhaps want to hear from the Irish first, our correspondent says, most countries agree on one thing - those states that have yet to ratify the treaty should press ahead as planned. The foreign ministers will want to hear from their Irish counterpart Micheal Martin how they can overcome the crisis, while a two-day EU summit in Brussels starting on Thursday is expected to chart the way ahead.
Search for answers
But Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said there is no obvious solution for the Lisbon treaty, which is meant to streamline the workings of the EU and give it a stronger voice in the world.
Although Ireland said No, 18 states have already ratified the treaty
Amid concern and frustration, BBC European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu reports, the EU is looking for answers:
Why did the referendum come up with such a clear no? What changes could be made to accommodate the disparate concerns of Irish voters? How soon is a second vote possible, if at all?
"The discussions are not likely to go too far, we will not be asking him anything precise," an unnamed senior EU diplomat told AFP news agency."The discussions are not likely to go too far, we will not be asking him anything precise," an unnamed senior EU diplomat told AFP news agency.
Andrew Duff, a UK Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament, said:Andrew Duff, a UK Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament, said:
"People are still stupefied by the decision of the Irish, we need to wait for the clearing of everybody's brains.""People are still stupefied by the decision of the Irish, we need to wait for the clearing of everybody's brains."
Unlikely alliesUnlikely allies
Separately, French President Nicholas Sarkozy is due to arrive in the Czech capital Prague on Monday for talks with the Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak leaders.Separately, French President Nicholas Sarkozy is due to arrive in the Czech capital Prague on Monday for talks with the Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak leaders.
Although Ireland said No, 18 states have already ratified the treaty Mr Sarkozy's Czech counterpart, Vaclav Klaus, whose signature is needed for the treaty's approval, has broken ranks by calling the Irish No a victory for liberty and reason over elitist plans and European bureaucracy.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that ratifications must carry on so that the Irish vote does not "become a crisis". There is also growing pressure on UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stop the treaty from going through the last stage of ratification on Wednesday.
But Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Lisbon was dead and the people of Europe should thank the Irish voters. Meanwhile, more federalist leaders like Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker have revived calls for a multi-speed Europe.
The BBC's Rob Cameron says the talks are likely to be dominated by the future of Lisbon but if Mr Sarkozy is looking for allies in his bid to revive the treaty, he may have come to the wrong place. They say that some countries could push forward with integration in what he called a Club of the Few.
The treaty is aimed at helping the EU to cope with its expansion into eastern Europe.The treaty is aimed at helping the EU to cope with its expansion into eastern Europe.
It 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 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.It is due to come into force on 1 January 2009.