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Irish to be offered Lisbon pledge New Lisbon divisions mar EU talks
(39 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 have postponed further discussion of the troubled Lisbon Treaty amid a new rift over guarantees for the Republic of Ireland.
They are set to announce guarantees that it will not undermine Irish sovereignty in key areas. Irish PM Brian Cowen wants not only a legally binding EU political "decision", but also a protocol attached to the EU's founding treaty.
The treaty has been ratified in most EU countries and the Irish vote is the biggest remaining obstacle in its path. "This is necessary if I am to call, and win, a second referendum," he said in a letter to UK leader Gordon Brown.
EU leaders will also discuss tightening financial rules, and the re-appointment of Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso. Some EU countries fear reopening the debate may encourage treaty opponents.
The summit follows European elections which saw a general swing to the right and some gains for Eurosceptics. They want to avoid any new round of referendums on it, after years of negotiations.
EU leaders are anxious to draw a line under the Lisbon Treaty debate. The EU leaders, meeting in Brussels, are also discussing tightening financial rules and a proposal to nominate Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as president of the European Commission.
Treaty wrangling
The Lisbon Treaty has been ratified in most EU countries and the second Irish referendum - expected to be in October - is the biggest remaining hurdle.
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.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 pressure The EU guarantees - still under discussion - are designed to allay such fears.
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 issuesThe 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.
"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.
Nearly all the 27 member states have now ratified the treaty, but some are holding out.
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.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.
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.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. Sweden, which takes over the EU's rotating presidency next month, does not want any further delays over Lisbon. Referring to the Irish guarantees, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said: "I just want to make sure it solves their problem without creating problems for anyone else."
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said: "I just want to make sure it solves their problem without creating problems for anyone else." Financial watchdog
Rift on rules EU officials say there is a deal in principle on a new EU-wide system of financial supervision, with even Mr Brown accepting the need for harmonised rules.
The banking crisis also looms large over this two-day summit, so the powers of new EU regulatory bodies will be hotly debated. But the UK does not want the European Central Bank to have the key supervisory role in a new European Systemic Risk Board, which will look out for any threats to financial stability across the EU.
The discussions centre on recommendations by an expert panel headed by Jacques de Larosiere, a former IMF managing director. European farmers have descended on Brussels demanding fair prices
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 Europe
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 that new 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.
The delegations are now working to establish the new supervisors' competencies, before the fine details are worked out by the Commission. Many of the delegations called for Commission proposals on financial regulation before September, the EU officials said.
The discussions centre on recommendations by an expert panel headed by Jacques de Larosiere, a former IMF managing director.
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." Sweden's PM Fredrik Reinfeldt 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.