Bless you Irish - a blow for DEMOCRACY
From my June 12th newsfeed from Open Europe:
Constitution will still be passed even if Ireland votes no, say EU officials;
Irish officials cover up consequences of Lisbon
Voting has begun in Ireland, the only EU state to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The FT Brussels blog says that the Yes campaign are confident of winning. Irish Europe Minister Dick Roche told El Pais: "We think that certainly within the last 72 hours there has been a big swing towards the Yes", citing private polling carried out by the government. The FT notes that a second Irish referendum would be difficult, because there are several reasons why people are voting no.
The Telegraph reports that officials in Brussels are working on plans to ensure that Lisbon is still implemented elsewhere if Ireland votes against it in the referendum. One diplomat said a "bridging mechanism" was being discussed. If Ireland rejects the treaty, it may simply be removed from the list of signatories and will not be legally obliged to abide by it. By late 2009 or early 2010, when Croatia joins the EU, an amending "Accession Treaty" (with a new protocol giving opt-outs to Dublin) will be signed by all members including Dublin. Since Ireland, like the rest of the Europe, does not hold referendums on EU enlargement treaties, the measure could be put though the Irish parliament without a popular vote.
One official told the newspaper, "This mechanism would be no more incomprehensible or legalistic than the Treaty itself. It is probably no more difficult than the legal footwork necessary to turn the Constitutional Treaty into [the] Lisbon [Treaty] after the French and Dutch rejected it."
Secret minutes seen by the Telegraph show that Ireland's EU Ambassador, Bobby McDonagh, pleaded with his colleagues to keep the talks and Dublin's position confidential. Before setting out Dublin's detailed and decided position on both the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the role of the foreign minister, now called a High Representative (HR) for foreign affairs, Bobby McDonagh urged secrecy: "[We] have to remain cautious in presenting these issues [referendum]!," the minutes record.
Seamus Milne argues in the Guardian that "subordination to the US or an undemocratic neoliberal superstate is no choice at all. Instead, political alliances need to be constructed for a different kind of Europe. If Irish voters are intimidated into backing the treaty today, public alienation from the EU will continue to grow, along with rightwing nationalism. But if they manage to boot it out, they could help kickstart the essential process of change and give a voice to millions across the continent."
A leader in the Mail argues "Don't hold your breath. But if the Irish vote No today, all freedom-loving Europeans will have cause to raise a grateful glass of the black stuff in their honour." Irish voter and blogger Guido Fawkes argues "Ireland was Europe's first colony, we are now the last sovereign democracy. For ourselves and all those who have no voice, the Irish must say 'No'." The Politics Home poll of political insiders suggests that there would be pressure for a referendum in the UK if the Irish vote no.
Yesterday Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally appeared on French radio station BFM to discuss the Irish referendum. Neil O'Brien appeared on the BBC World Service.
Links were provided to:
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