This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7455955.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| 'No quick fix' to Irish No vote | 'No quick fix' to Irish No vote |
| (39 minutes 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 was speaking as EU foreign ministers met to discuss how to respond to the Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty. | He was speaking as EU foreign ministers met to discuss 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. |
| EU foreign 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. | EU foreign 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. |
| 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, has been hosting Monday's meeting of foreign ministers. | Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, has been hosting Monday's meeting of foreign ministers. |
| No-one senior is talking about leaving Ireland out in the cold, but some MEPs are in favour of this 'coalition of the willing' The BBC's Mark Mardell Euroblog: EU crisis talks begin | No-one senior is talking about leaving Ireland out in the cold, but some MEPs are in favour of this 'coalition of the willing' The BBC's Mark Mardell Euroblog: EU crisis talks begin |
| "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. |
| "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." |
| 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." | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been meeting Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the Polish city of Gdansk, backed the treaty. | |
| "The EU needs the Lisbon treaty to be able to act and for future enlargements," she said. | |
| Meanwhile, French President Nicholas Sarkozy has arrived in the Czech capital, Prague, for talks with the Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak leaders. | |
| LISBON TREATY Creates post of an EU president, elected for two-and-a-half years, rather than current six-month rotating presidencyA new high representative for foreign policy, to boost EU's external voice - a merger of the existing two foreign policy postsCommissioners from two-thirds of member states - no longer from each state - and rotated among member states to serve five-year termsMore decision-making by qualified majority voting, reducing national vetoes, but new voting system only takes effect in 2014Enhanced roles for European Parliament and national parliaments Q&A: Lisbon Treaty | LISBON TREATY Creates post of an EU president, elected for two-and-a-half years, rather than current six-month rotating presidencyA new high representative for foreign policy, to boost EU's external voice - a merger of the existing two foreign policy postsCommissioners from two-thirds of member states - no longer from each state - and rotated among member states to serve five-year termsMore decision-making by qualified majority voting, reducing national vetoes, but new voting system only takes effect in 2014Enhanced roles for European Parliament and national parliaments 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. | |
| 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. |
| Mr Brown made clear on Monday that he intended to press ahead with the ratification process, but stressed that the treaty could not come into force until all 27 members sign. | Mr Brown made clear on Monday that he intended to press ahead with the ratification process, but stressed that the treaty could not come into force until all 27 members sign. |
| He added that a "short period of reflection" was needed for the Irish Republic to assess what proposals it might offer for resolving the situation. | He added that a "short period of reflection" was needed for the Irish Republic to assess what proposals it might offer for resolving the situation. |
| 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. |