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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ireland rejects EU reform treaty | Ireland rejects EU reform treaty |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voters in Ireland have rejected the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty in a referendum by 53.4% to 46.6%. | |
| The vote is a major blow to leaders in the 27-nation EU, which requires all its members to ratify the treaty. Only Ireland has held a public vote. | |
| The European Commission says nations should continue to ratify the treaty, designed to streamline decision-making. | The European Commission says nations should continue to ratify the treaty, designed to streamline decision-making. |
| Irish PM Brian Cowen said he respected the vote but it had caused a "difficult situation" that had "no quick fix". | Irish PM Brian Cowen said he respected the vote but it had caused a "difficult situation" that had "no quick fix". |
| Leaders of the No campaign said the vote was a "great result for Ireland". | Leaders of the No campaign said the vote was a "great result for Ireland". |
| An earlier, more wide-ranging EU draft constitution failed after French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005. | An earlier, more wide-ranging EU draft constitution failed after French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005. |
| 'Uncharted territory' | 'Uncharted territory' |
| The Irish No campaign won by 862,415 votes to 752,451. Turnout was 53.1%. | The Irish No campaign won by 862,415 votes to 752,451. Turnout was 53.1%. |
| At the end of the day, for a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken Dermot Ahern, Justice Minister Q&A: Irish referendumMark Mardell's EuroblogIn quotes: Referendum reaction | |
| Mr Cowen said: "The government accepts and respects the verdict of the Irish people." | Mr Cowen said: "The government accepts and respects the verdict of the Irish people." |
| He said he would work with other EU leaders to try to find an "agreed way forward" but that the bloc was in "uncharted territory". | He said he would work with other EU leaders to try to find an "agreed way forward" but that the bloc was in "uncharted territory". |
| "Ireland has no wish to halt the progress" of the EU, he said. | "Ireland has no wish to halt the progress" of the EU, he said. |
| A referendum was mandatory in Ireland as the country would need to change its constitution to accommodate the treaty. | A referendum was mandatory in Ireland as the country would need to change its constitution to accommodate the treaty. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he had spoken to Mr Cowen and agreed with him that this was not a vote against the EU. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he had spoken to Mr Cowen and agreed with him that this was not a vote against the EU. |
| "Ireland remains committed to a strong Europe," he said. | "Ireland remains committed to a strong Europe," he said. |
| "Ratifications should continue to take their course." | "Ratifications should continue to take their course." |
| France and Germany quickly issued a joint statement expressing regret over the Irish result. | France and Germany quickly issued a joint statement expressing regret over the Irish result. |
| British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would press on with ratification, saying: "It's right that we continue with our own process." | British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would press on with ratification, saying: "It's right that we continue with our own process." |
| This is democracy in action... and Europe needs to listen to the voice of the people Declan Ganley, Libertas UK to press aheadSend us your comments | |
| Spain has said a solution will be found but Czech President Vaclav Klaus said ratification could not now continue. | Spain has said a solution will be found but Czech President Vaclav Klaus said ratification could not now continue. |
| Mr Barroso said EU leaders would have to decide at a summit next week how to proceed. | Mr Barroso said EU leaders would have to decide at a summit next week how to proceed. |
| He called for the EU to continue focusing on issues of interest to people like jobs and inflation, energy security and climate change. | He called for the EU to continue focusing on issues of interest to people like jobs and inflation, energy security and climate change. |
| But BBC Europe editor, Mark Mardell, says this is a multiple crisis for the EU - a crisis of rule change, of legitimacy and of morale. | But BBC Europe editor, Mark Mardell, says this is a multiple crisis for the EU - a crisis of rule change, of legitimacy and of morale. |
| In the end, he says, the Lisbon treaty could be declared dead: some parts of it would be implemented without a treaty, others abandoned, others put in a new treaty when Croatia joins the EU in a couple of years time. | In the end, he says, the Lisbon treaty could be declared dead: some parts of it would be implemented without a treaty, others abandoned, others put in a new treaty when Croatia joins the EU in a couple of years time. |
| Declan Ganley of the anti-treaty lobby group Libertas said: "It is a great day for Irish democracy." | Declan Ganley of the anti-treaty lobby group Libertas said: "It is a great day for Irish democracy." |
| He added: "This is democracy in action... and Europe needs to listen to the voice of the people." | He added: "This is democracy in action... and Europe needs to listen to the voice of the people." |
| The No campaign was a broad coalition ranging from Libertas to Sinn Fein, the only party in parliament to oppose the treaty. | The No campaign was a broad coalition ranging from Libertas to Sinn Fein, the only party in parliament to oppose the treaty. |
| Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, said: "People feel secure at the heart of Europe, but they want to ensure there's maximum democratic power." | Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, said: "People feel secure at the heart of Europe, but they want to ensure there's maximum democratic power." |
| Confusion | Confusion |
| Correspondents say many voters did not understand the treaty despite a high-profile campaign led by Mr Cowen, which had the support of most of the country's main parties. | Correspondents say many voters did not understand the treaty despite a high-profile campaign led by Mr Cowen, which had the support of most of the country's main parties. |
| Jose Manuel Barroso said the EC respected the vote but had hoped for another outcome | Jose Manuel Barroso said the EC respected the vote but had hoped for another outcome |
| Mr Cowen accused the No camp of "misrepresentation", saying voters had voiced concern about "issues that clearly weren't in the treaty at all", the Irish Times reported. | Mr Cowen accused the No camp of "misrepresentation", saying voters had voiced concern about "issues that clearly weren't in the treaty at all", the Irish Times reported. |
| The treaty, which is designed to help the EU cope with its expansion into eastern Europe, provides for a streamlining of the European Commission, the removal of the national veto in more policy areas, a new president of the European Council and a strengthened foreign affairs post. | The treaty, which is designed to help the EU cope with its expansion into eastern Europe, provides for a streamlining of the European Commission, the removal of the national veto in more policy areas, a new president of the European Council and a strengthened foreign affairs post. |
| The treaty was due to come into force on 1 January 2009. | The treaty was due to come into force on 1 January 2009. |
| Fourteen countries out of the 27 have completed ratification so far. | Fourteen countries out of the 27 have completed ratification so far. |
| Just over three million Irish voters are registered - in a European Union of 490 million people. | Just over three million Irish voters are registered - in a European Union of 490 million people. |