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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| 'No quick fix' to Irish No vote | 'No quick fix' to Irish No vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin has said it is "far too early" to seek a solution to the Irish rejection of a European Union reform treaty. | Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin has said it is "far too early" to seek a solution to the Irish rejection of a European Union reform treaty. |
| He spoke ahead of talks by EU foreign ministers on how to respond to the Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty. | He spoke ahead of talks by EU foreign ministers on how to respond to the Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty. |
| The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states. Only the Irish Republic has held a referendum. | The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states. Only the Irish Republic has held a referendum. |
| The majority of EU members agree that those who have yet to ratify the treaty should carry on and do so. | The majority of EU members agree that those who have yet to ratify the treaty should carry on and do so. |
| Correspondents say the assembled foreign ministers will be keen to hear their Irish counterpart's views as they look for ways to overcome the crisis. | Correspondents say the assembled foreign ministers will be keen to hear their Irish counterpart's views as they look for ways to overcome the crisis. |
| After their meeting in Luxembourg, a two-day EU summit in Brussels - starting on Thursday - is expected to chart the way ahead. | After their meeting in Luxembourg, a two-day EU summit in Brussels - starting on Thursday - is expected to chart the way ahead. |
| Speaking in Luxembourg, Mr Martin told reporters: "The people's decision has to be respected and we have to chart a way through... It is far too early for proffering any solutions or proposals. | Speaking in Luxembourg, Mr Martin told reporters: "The people's decision has to be respected and we have to chart a way through... It is far too early for proffering any solutions or proposals. |
| "There are no quick fix solutions." | "There are no quick fix solutions." |
| 'Risky' | 'Risky' |
| Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, is hosting Monday's meeting of foreign ministers. | Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, is hosting Monday's meeting of foreign ministers. |
| "It would be risky to say we are going to bring the treaty back to life when we are facing a blockade," AFP news agency quoted Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel as saying. | "It would be risky to say we are going to bring the treaty back to life when we are facing a blockade," AFP news agency quoted Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel as saying. |
| Mark Mardell explains the Irish vote's impact | Mark Mardell explains the Irish vote's impact |
| "I don't have any solution. We are going to listen to Minister [Micheal] Martin, maybe he has a solution. We are going to wait and think and let us respect the vote that has taken place." | "I don't have any solution. We are going to listen to Minister [Micheal] Martin, maybe he has a solution. We are going to wait and think and let us respect the vote that has taken place." |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband echoed his message, saying: "It's important that we respond in a calm way, a respectful way, and in a way that gives the Irish government space to come to terms with this decision... and to decide on their next course of action." | |
| EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, quoted by AFP, promised that the EU would solve the problem, but added "I don't know how we'll solve it practically". | |
| Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has also said there is no obvious solution for a way forward on the Lisbon treaty, which is meant to streamline the workings of the EU and give it a stronger voice in the world. | Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has also said there is no obvious solution for a way forward on the Lisbon treaty, which is meant to streamline the workings of the EU and give it a stronger voice in the world. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe treaty should be ditched, it is a terrible document and the existing system, even with the new members, works. Brian, Bordeaux Send us your comments | |
| Amid concern and frustration, BBC European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu reports, the EU is looking for answers. | Amid concern and frustration, BBC European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu reports, the EU is looking for answers. |
| Leaders want to know what went wrong, what changes could be made to accommodate the disparate concerns of Irish voters and how soon a second vote may be possible, if at all, she says. | |
| The most likely scenario, our correspondent suggests, is a declaration assuring the Irish that the treaty will not affect their policies on abortion, taxation and neutrality. | |
| No-one is expecting a magic formula to emerge from the Luxembourg meeting, she adds, so it will be up to EU leaders to try to chart a way forward when they gather on Thursday. | |
| Unlikely allies | Unlikely 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. |
| LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaReferendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech Republic, UKNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden Q&A: Lisbon Treaty | LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaReferendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech Republic, UKNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden Q&A: Lisbon 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. | 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. |
| The Czech Republic's constitutional court is expected to rule later this year on whether the treaty is compatible with its constitution. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, more federalist leaders like Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker have revived calls for a multi-speed Europe. | Meanwhile, more federalist leaders like Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker have revived calls for a multi-speed Europe. |
| They say that some countries could push forward with integration in what he called a Club of the Few. | 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. |