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Irish 'No' on EU leaders' agenda EU leaders meet after Irish 'No'
(about 4 hours later)
European Union leaders are due to attend a summit in Brussels which is likely to be dominated by Ireland's rejection of the EU treaty last week. European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a summit likely to be overshadowed by Irish voters' rejection of the EU reform treaty last week.
They are expected to agree ratification must continue, but refrain from proposing an early way out of the crisis, the BBC's Oana Lungescu says. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was too early to decide the future of the treaty.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso insists the setback should not paralyse the bloc. But Mr Barroso urged other EU members to continue with ratification.
The UK has ratified the treaty, which aims to streamline the enlarged EU. Correspondents say EU leaders want to move the focus from the Lisbon Treaty to "real" issues like fuel prices.
The Treaty of Lisbon has now been approved by 19 member states out of 27. "Our first concern is the economic situation in Europe. Oil prices, food prices, that's what we are going to discuss," Mr Barroso said.
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, UKDefeated by referendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech RepublicNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Mardell blog: The meaning of "No" class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7461785.stm">EU crisis: The same, but different Renegotiation 'unappetising'
On Thursday, Mr Barroso told a news conference in Brussels that the wishes of the Irish people needed to be respected. But the uncertain future for the treaty is likely to stymie EU business, like planning for the accession of Croatia and other Balkan nations, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.
The Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Brian Cowen, said it was "far too early" for anyone to put forward proposals on how to deal with the institutional crisis caused by the Irish vote. The BBC's Mark Mardell looks at the options open to EU leaders after the Irish vote
Mr Cowen added Ireland needed time to explore options and that he would canvass European leaders at the summit for their views. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this was one reason "why we all must have a passionate interest in the Lisbon Treaty taking effect quickly".
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament that all EU member states needed to adopt the treaty. She dismissed talk that Ireland could be excluded from the treaty or that some sort of "two-speed" Europe could be created. But how that will happen remains unclear.
Our correspondent says the most that EU leaders can agree on for now is that they will continue ratifying the treaty, and see how far they get by the time they hold their next summit in October. The treaty must be ratified by all 27 member states to take effect. Nineteen have approved it so far, the latest of which was the UK, where it passed through parliament on Wednesday.
Unlike three years ago, when the EU was plunged into crisis by French and Dutch rejection of the European constitution, the UK has not put ratification on hold, she adds. "It is necessary for Ireland to have time now to analyse last week's vote and explore options," Mr Cowen said.
Soaring prices "It is far too early yet for anybody to put forward proposals," he added.
The summit was due to examine soaring energy and food prices, which have led to protests across Europe and fuelled Irish opposition to the treaty. LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, UKDefeated by referendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech RepublicNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Mardell blog: The meaning of "No" class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7461785.stm">EU crisis: The same, but different class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7463803.stm">Cuba awaits sanctions decision
Mr Barroso suggested decisions on the treaty be put off until October.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he did not "detect any appetite" for a renegotiation of the treaty.
EU leaders are expected to examine soaring energy and food prices, which have led to protests across Europe.
Mr Barroso has said the EU will back short-term measures to address social hardship, but he has warned that high oil prices have to be tackled with long-term plans.Mr Barroso has said the EU will back short-term measures to address social hardship, but he has warned that high oil prices have to be tackled with long-term plans.
Our correspondent says the summit will reassure Balkan countries that they can join the bloc when they meet the required economic and political conditions, and back plans for an "eastern partnership" with former Soviet republics like Ukraine.Our correspondent says the summit will reassure Balkan countries that they can join the bloc when they meet the required economic and political conditions, and back plans for an "eastern partnership" with former Soviet republics like Ukraine.
But diplomats say it will be difficult to continue with enlargement until the EU can agree on ways to work better, either with or without the reform treaty.But diplomats say it will be difficult to continue with enlargement until the EU can agree on ways to work better, either with or without the reform treaty.
Germany and France have been at pains to impress this on the Czech Republic and Poland, which are keen on eastward expansion of the EU but hesitating over ratification of Lisbon.
At the summit, the leaders will also turn their attention to the possibility of lifting sanctions on Cuba - as well as Zimbabwe's forthcoming elections.At the summit, the leaders will also turn their attention to the possibility of lifting sanctions on Cuba - as well as Zimbabwe's forthcoming elections.