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Irish to be offered Lisbon pledge Irish to be offered Lisbon pledge
(40 minutes later)
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.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.
They are set to announce guarantees that it will not undermine Irish sovereignty in key areas.They are set to announce guarantees that it will not undermine Irish sovereignty in key areas.
The treaty has been ratified in most EU countries and the Irish vote is the biggest remaining obstacle in its path.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.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 before holding a second referendum, probably in October. The Irish government says fears that the EU might be able to override Irish policies on military neutrality, tax and abortion were among factors prompting voters to reject the treaty in a referendum last year.
Time pressureTime pressure
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. The EU has agreed to make guarantees to reassure Irish voters ahead of a second referendum, probably in October.
"The Lisbon Treaty does not affect or prejudice Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality... Irish treaty guarantees in brief Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty EU summit: Main issues"The Lisbon Treaty does not affect or prejudice Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality... Irish treaty guarantees in brief Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty EU summit: Main issues
The guarantees, seen by the BBC in a draft of the summit conclusions, state that "the Lisbon Treaty does not affect or prejudice" Ireland's military neutrality, tax policy and anti-abortion laws.
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.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 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."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.
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. Nearly all the 27 member states have now ratified the treaty, but some are holding out.
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. Even though it has passed their parliaments, the Eurosceptic Czech and Polish presidents have refused to sign the treaty unless it passes the Irish referendum.
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. But the British Conservatives' pledge to hold a referendum, if elected, means pro-treaty governments now face a race against time, says the BBC's Laurence Peter in Brussels.
EU countries want to make the Irish guarantees legally binding without forcing a new round of ratifications.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said: "I just want to make sure it solves their problem without creating problems for anyone else."
Rift on rulesRift on rules
The banking crisis also looms large over this two-day summit, so the powers of new EU regulatory bodies will be hotly debated.The banking crisis also 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 does not want the European Central Bank to have the key supervisory role in the new European Systemic Risk Board, whose job it is to spot any threats to financial stability across the EU.
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 that new European regulators would be able to overrule a national government, for example by instructing it to bail out a particular firm.
European farmers have descended on Brussels demanding fair prices
The leaders also have the easier task of nominating the conservative Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as EU Commission president.The leaders also have the easier task of nominating the conservative Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as EU Commission president.
European farmers have descended on Brussels demanding fair prices
He has no rival - and even has backing from some centre-left leaders.He has no rival - and even has backing from some centre-left leaders.
The prime minister of Sweden, which takes over the EU presidency in July, said: "This is not the time to make confusions in the EU leadershipÂ… he has broad support. I think it is pretty clear that we should elect him."
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 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.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.