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Irish EU vote plan 'undemocratic' | Irish EU vote plan 'undemocratic' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Irish government's aim of holding a second referendum on the EU treaty - which the country has already rejected - is undemocratic, the Tories said. | The Irish government's aim of holding a second referendum on the EU treaty - which the country has already rejected - is undemocratic, the Tories said. |
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the EU was in danger of seeming "unaccountable" and "out of touch". | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the EU was in danger of seeming "unaccountable" and "out of touch". |
An Irish government spokesman earlier said a second referendum could happen if there were legally binding guarantees about people's concerns. | An Irish government spokesman earlier said a second referendum could happen if there were legally binding guarantees about people's concerns. |
The Tories say UK voters should also get a vote on the EU treaty. | The Tories say UK voters should also get a vote on the EU treaty. |
The document, which needs the backing of all 27 EU members, was ratified by the UK Parliament earlier this year. | The document, which needs the backing of all 27 EU members, was ratified by the UK Parliament earlier this year. |
But its future was thrown into doubt when Irish voters rejected it in June. | But its future was thrown into doubt when Irish voters rejected it in June. |
'Dangerous distraction' | 'Dangerous distraction' |
On Thursday, an Irish government spokesman said there would be negotiations at the current EU summit in Brussels. | On Thursday, an Irish government spokesman said there would be negotiations at the current EU summit in Brussels. |
He added that there had to be guarantees over the country's law on abortion, its military neutrality and the independence of its taxation policy. | He added that there had to be guarantees over the country's law on abortion, its military neutrality and the independence of its taxation policy. |
Sarkozy looks like a man who likes nothing better than being at the centre of a crisis, unless it's being at the centre of four of them at once BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mark Mardell's summit blogQ&A: The Lisbon Treaty | Sarkozy looks like a man who likes nothing better than being at the centre of a crisis, unless it's being at the centre of four of them at once BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Mark Mardell's summit blogQ&A: The Lisbon Treaty |
Mr Hague said EU leaders should instead use the summit to focus on the economy, climate change and energy. | Mr Hague said EU leaders should instead use the summit to focus on the economy, climate change and energy. |
He added: "Trying to force the Lisbon Treaty down the Irish people's throats again is not only a dangerous distraction from that agenda; it is profoundly undemocratic." | He added: "Trying to force the Lisbon Treaty down the Irish people's throats again is not only a dangerous distraction from that agenda; it is profoundly undemocratic." |
The EU was in danger of being seen as "increasingly unaccountable and out of touch". | The EU was in danger of being seen as "increasingly unaccountable and out of touch". |
Mr Hague said: "If our unelected prime minister insists on forcing the Irish people to vote twice, the case for letting the British people vote once will be morally unanswerable." | |
The mechanism for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are being presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and which have been seen by the BBC. | The mechanism for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are being presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and which have been seen by the BBC. |
According to the draft, the Irish government says "it is committed to seeking ratification" of the Lisbon Treaty by next October. | According to the draft, the Irish government says "it is committed to seeking ratification" of the Lisbon Treaty by next October. |
The treaty is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the enlarged 27-nation EU. | The treaty is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the enlarged 27-nation EU. |
HAVE YOUR SAYThis whole episode makes a mockery of the political process. With 27 member states there cannot be a one size fits all approach to everything. Bert Trautmann, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThis whole episode makes a mockery of the political process. With 27 member states there cannot be a one size fits all approach to everything. Bert Trautmann, UKSend us your comments |
Its rejection by Irish voters has held up its ratification in the Czech Republic and Poland. | Its rejection by Irish voters has held up its ratification in the Czech Republic and Poland. |
Critics see the treaty as further evidence of a federalist, pro-integration agenda at work in the EU. | Critics see the treaty as further evidence of a federalist, pro-integration agenda at work in the EU. |
Even some of its architects say it is just a modified version of the defunct EU constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and on which all three main UK parties had offered a referendum. | Even some of its architects say it is just a modified version of the defunct EU constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and on which all three main UK parties had offered a referendum. |
'Reactionary' | 'Reactionary' |
Meanwhile, Declan Ganley, who oversaw the successful "no" campaign against the treaty in Ireland, has set up a party called Libertas, which will compete for seats in all EU states in next year's European Parliament elections. | Meanwhile, Declan Ganley, who oversaw the successful "no" campaign against the treaty in Ireland, has set up a party called Libertas, which will compete for seats in all EU states in next year's European Parliament elections. |
He told BBC Radio 4's The World at One he was campaigning against an "undemocratic Brussels" model. | He told BBC Radio 4's The World at One he was campaigning against an "undemocratic Brussels" model. |
But Mr Ganley added that he did not want an end to the EU, accusing the UK Independence Party and others pushing for withdrawal as "reactionary". | But Mr Ganley added that he did not want an end to the EU, accusing the UK Independence Party and others pushing for withdrawal as "reactionary". |
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "I'm a little surprised that Libertas want to stand in the UK as their policy seems almost the same as David Cameron's Conservatives'. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "I'm a little surprised that Libertas want to stand in the UK as their policy seems almost the same as David Cameron's Conservatives'. |
"They [Libertas] just want some change and reform within the union. I cannot see, given that UKIP is committed to the UK being an independent country, that we have anything in common at all." | "They [Libertas] just want some change and reform within the union. I cannot see, given that UKIP is committed to the UK being an independent country, that we have anything in common at all." |
The conclusions of the EU summit are expected to be published on Friday. | The conclusions of the EU summit are expected to be published on Friday. |
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