IRISH REPUBLIC 12 June 2008 Ireland holds referendum on European Union treaty 

The now 27-member European Union needs agreement on the rules and regulations by which it will govern itslef sooner rather than later, and Ireland is one of the few member countries willing to take a chance on putting the newly-formed EU Treaty to public vote. Many other members see a parliamentary vote on ratification as a safer bet for approval. A looming issue is a threat from Irish farmers.

The farmers were out in force on the streets of Dublin on Apr 17 to protest against forthcoming world trade talks in Switzerland and warn the government that the nature of the trade deal would affect their vote on the EU treaty. 

The 27 EU leaders signed the new so-called Lisbon Treaty treaty in October, but it must be ratified in all 27 countries for it to go into effect by the target date of January 2009. The ill-fated predecessor to the new treaty, the European Constitution, was scuttled in May 2005 because French and Dutch voters failed to ratify it.

Britain's decision to have its parliament vote on ratification, instead of putting it to public vote, is open to challenge. Denmark may also face a battle to avoid a public poll. And France and The Netherlands can't be sure their voters won't turn down ratification if given another opportunity.

The distinguishing features of the Lisbon Treaty are measures to make decision-making in the European Union more transparent, with higher levels of parliamentary scrutiny and democratic accountability.

It amounts to a compromise between the 18 countries that had said 'yes' to the European Constitution, the two who said 'no', and the seven who were waiting to see. UPDATED Apr/08

RELATED READING:

Irish farmers link EU treaty vote with trade talks (EU Observer 18 Apr 2008)
http://euobserver.com/9/26005/?rk=1