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EU summit faces difficult issues Irish to be offered Lisbon pledge
(about 2 hours later)
EU leaders are set to grapple with two particularly thorny issues at a summit in Brussels - the Lisbon Treaty and how to tighten financial regulation. EU leaders meeting in Brussels are once more grappling with the Lisbon Treaty, hoping to agree on ways to help it pass a second Irish referendum.
The leaders also have the easier task of nominating the conservative Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as EU Commission president. They are set to announce guarantees that it will not undermine Irish sovereignty in key areas.
He has no rival - and even has backing from some centre-left leaders. The treaty has been ratified in most EU countries and the Irish vote is the biggest remaining obstacle in its path.
EU leaders will also discuss tightening financial rules, and the re-appointment of Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso.
The summit follows European elections which saw a general swing to the right and some gains for Eurosceptics.The summit follows European elections which saw a general swing to the right and some gains for Eurosceptics.
EU leaders are anxious to draw a line under the Lisbon Treaty debate.EU leaders are anxious to draw a line under the Lisbon Treaty debate.
But there has been much wrangling over the legal guarantees that the Irish government requires in order to put the Lisbon Treaty to a second referendum, likely to be held in October. But there has been much wrangling over the legal guarantees that the Irish government requires before holding a second referendum, probably in October.
Time pressureTime pressure
The referendum is crucial to the treaty's future. It is probably the last big hurdle, as nearly all the 27 member states have now ratified it, though the British Conservatives' pledge to hold a referendum, if elected, has made this a race against time. Nearly all the 27 member states have now ratified the treaty, though the British Conservatives' pledge to hold a referendum, if elected, has made this a race against time, says the BBC's Laurence Peter in Brussels.
A second Irish "No" vote, like the one a year ago, would be deeply humiliating for EU leaders. They have spent years working on the institutional changes they deem necessary to make the enlarged bloc perform efficiently. "The Lisbon Treaty does not affect or prejudice Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality... class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8107361.stm">Irish treaty guarantees in brief
EU leaders are keen to wrap up Lisbon Treaty ratification this year Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he was confident that EU leaders would grant the guarantees that would convince Irish voters to back the treaty.
The guarantees are expected to take the form of a legally binding political decision by the European Council - the EU prime ministers and presidents. "The concerns that the Irish have expressed have been very clearly pushed, so I am hoping that the solidarity of everyone will be manifested at this meeting," he said in Brussels.
They will cover what Dublin identified as key areas of concern for Irish voters, guaranteeing that the treaty will not affect the country's military neutrality, tax policy and anti-abortion laws. The guarantees, seen by the BBC in a draft of the summit conclusions, take the form of a legally binding political decision by the European Council - the EU prime ministers and presidents.
The guarantees - essentially assurances to voters - are to be made specific to the Republic of Ireland and robust enough to resist any legal challenge in the EU. Above all, the leaders want to close any legal loophole that could be used to reopen the Lisbon Treaty negotiations. They cover what Dublin identified as key areas of concern for Irish voters, guaranteeing that "the Lisbon Treaty does not affect or prejudice" Ireland's military neutrality, tax policy and anti-abortion laws.
The number of EU commissioners is to be kept at 27, again to accommodate Ireland, though the original plan was to have 18 as from 2014. A second Irish "No" vote, like the one a year ago, would be deeply humiliating for EU leaders, our correspondent says. They have spent years working on the institutional changes they deem necessary to make the enlarged bloc perform efficiently.
The leaders' decision is expected to be modelled on the legally binding agreement made with Denmark after its voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. It would not require approval by other EU institutions. Rift on rules
It is not yet clear whether the decision will be incorporated into a subsequent EU treaty. France has suggested it could be added to Croatia's EU accession treaty, when that is ready for ratification. The banking crisis also looms large over this two-day summit, so the powers of new EU regulatory bodies will be hotly debated.
Financial woes
The banking crisis looms large over this two-day summit, so the powers of new EU regulatory bodies will be hotly debated.
The discussions centre on recommendations by an expert panel headed by Jacques de Larosiere, a former IMF managing director.The discussions centre on recommendations by an expert panel headed by Jacques de Larosiere, a former IMF managing director.
Is this just a smokescreen for going along with a lot of other stuff that people in the City won't like? Mark MardellBBC Europe editor Mardell's EuropeIs this just a smokescreen for going along with a lot of other stuff that people in the City won't like? Mark MardellBBC Europe editor Mardell's Europe
The UK government, anxious to maintain the global authority of the City of London, is wary of the European Central Bank chairing the proposed new European Systemic Risk Board. Its job would be to spot any threats to financial stability across the EU. The UK and a few other EU nations do not want this key role to be monopolised by the 16-nation eurozone.The UK government, anxious to maintain the global authority of the City of London, is wary of the European Central Bank chairing the proposed new European Systemic Risk Board. Its job would be to spot any threats to financial stability across the EU. The UK and a few other EU nations do not want this key role to be monopolised by the 16-nation eurozone.
There are also concerns about the proposed European System of Financial Supervisors, whose job would be to monitor individual financial firms. The big question is whether these European regulators would be able to overrule a national government, for example by instructing it to bail out a particular firm.There are also concerns about the proposed European System of Financial Supervisors, whose job would be to monitor individual financial firms. The big question is whether these European regulators would be able to overrule a national government, for example by instructing it to bail out a particular firm.
The UK insists it should have the final say over its taxpayers' money. The multi-billion-pound bailouts of Northern Rock, Lloyds TSB and HBOS highlight the sensitivity of this issue. European farmers have descended on Brussels demanding fair prices
The Czech Republic, chairing its last summit as EU president, says it wants to secure a political deal that would empower the European Commission to create a new supervisory framework. The goal is to put the blueprint into action next year. The leaders also have the easier task of nominating the conservative Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as EU Commission president.
He has no rival - and even has backing from some centre-left leaders.
The summit will also touch on preparations for the UN conference on climate change, coming up in December.The summit will also touch on preparations for the UN conference on climate change, coming up in December.
The Czechs want the debate to focus on EU support for developing countries, to help them mitigate the effects of climate change. The Czech Republic, chairing its last summit as EU president, wants the debate to focus on EU support for developing countries, to help them mitigate the effects of climate change.
"We need a simple, effective and accountable system that ensures that only real reductions of emissions receive financial support," Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer said recently.