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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| EU grapples with Irish 'No' vote | EU grapples with Irish 'No' vote |
| (1 day later) | |
| Governments in the European Union are exploring what to do after the Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty to reform the expanded EU. | |
| France and Germany have described the "No" vote as a serious blow but urged the EU to press ahead with the project. | France and Germany have described the "No" vote as a serious blow but urged the EU to press ahead with the project. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy said ratifications must carry on so that the Irish vote did not "become a crisis". | French President Nicolas Sarkozy said ratifications must carry on so that the Irish vote did not "become a crisis". |
| But Czech President Vaclav Klaus said the treaty was finished, since any further ratification was impossible. | But Czech President Vaclav Klaus said the treaty was finished, since any further ratification was impossible. |
| His is a lone voice among EU leaders, but his views will probably resonate with many European voters who did not get a say in a referendum, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. | His is a lone voice among EU leaders, but his views will probably resonate with many European voters who did not get a say in a referendum, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. |
| The third failed referendum on an EU treaty in three years can only be seen as a serious blow to the EU's credibility at home and abroad, our correspondent adds. | The third failed referendum on an EU treaty in three years can only be seen as a serious blow to the EU's credibility at home and abroad, our correspondent adds. |
| 'Take their course' | 'Take their course' |
| Voters in the Irish Republic rejected the Lisbon treaty in a vote by 53.4% to 46.6%. | Voters in the Irish Republic rejected the Lisbon treaty in a vote by 53.4% to 46.6%. |
| At the end of the day, for a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken Dermot Ahern, Justice Minister EU mulls options after 'No' voteMark Mardell's EuroblogIn quotes: Referendum reaction | At the end of the day, for a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken Dermot Ahern, Justice Minister EU mulls options after 'No' voteMark Mardell's EuroblogIn quotes: Referendum reaction |
| The 27-nation EU requires all its members to ratify the treaty but only Ireland has held a public vote. | The 27-nation EU requires all its members to ratify the treaty but only Ireland has held a public vote. |
| A referendum was mandatory in the Republic as the country would need to change its constitution to accommodate the treaty. | A referendum was mandatory in the Republic as the country would need to change its constitution to accommodate the treaty. |
| 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. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that Ireland remained "committed to a strong Europe". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that Ireland remained "committed to a strong Europe". |
| "Ratifications should continue to take their course," he added. | "Ratifications should continue to take their course," he added. |
| British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would press on with its ratification. | British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would press on with its ratification. |
| Lisbon is supposed to replace the European constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters three years ago. | Lisbon is supposed to replace the European constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch voters three years ago. |
| 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. |
| It is due to come into force on 1 January, 2009. | It is 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. |
| Long weekend | Long weekend |
| European governments will spend the weekend trying to chart a way forward for the EU, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports from Dublin. | European governments will spend the weekend trying to chart a way forward for the EU, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports from Dublin. |
| EU leaders appear to be in for a weekend of deep reflection | EU leaders appear to be in for a weekend of deep reflection |
| Ireland has thrown a spanner deep into the EU's machinery and Europe's leaders have just a few days before they meet for their summer summit in Brussels, to come up with some credible ideas as to how to move forward. | Ireland has thrown a spanner deep into the EU's machinery and Europe's leaders have just a few days before they meet for their summer summit in Brussels, to come up with some credible ideas as to how to move forward. |
| The most obvious course of action might be to tinker with Treaty and then ask Ireland to vote again. | The most obvious course of action might be to tinker with Treaty and then ask Ireland to vote again. |
| But Thursday's "No" vote was more than the usual anti-European suspects, our correspondent says. | But Thursday's "No" vote was more than the usual anti-European suspects, our correspondent says. |
| The No campaign successfully increased its vote in the Irish Republic and asking a population to vote again is a trick you can only pull so many times. | The No campaign successfully increased its vote in the Irish Republic and asking a population to vote again is a trick you can only pull so many times. |
| The weekend will be a period of deep reflection for many governments across the EU, our correspondent says. | The weekend will be a period of deep reflection for many governments across the EU, our correspondent says. |