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EU sets no deadline over treaty EU urged to give Dublin more time
(about 3 hours later)
European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have refused to set a deadline for a deal on the stalled Lisbon Treaty after its rejection by the Irish. EU leaders meeting in Brussels have been urged to give the Irish Republic more time to deal with its people's rejection of the Lisbon treaty.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was too early to decide the treaty's future. Irish PM Brian Cowen has been speaking to his EU counterparts about his country's referendum over a working dinner on the summit's first day.
But Mr Barroso urged other EU members to continue with ratification. European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso urged respect for the poll.
Correspondents say EU leaders want to move the focus from the Lisbon Treaty to "real" issues like fuel prices. Germany rejected the idea of moving ahead on Lisbon without Ireland, which won strong Czech backing at the summit.
"Our first concern is the economic situation in Europe. Oil prices, food prices, that's what we are going to discuss," Mr Barroso said. The Czech Republic's Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Alexandr Vondra, told the BBC that "pushing" countries like his own and Ireland would not make ratification come any sooner.
Renegotiation 'unappetising' "Don't press us," he told the World Tonight programme.
Ireland's Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, said he did not anticipate a solution even by the time of the next EU summit in October, according to the AFP news agency. "I think any kind of pressure could be very counter-productive."
And his British counterpart, David Miliband, said: "It's premature to talk about deadlines." 'Too early'
Mr Barroso suggested that a plan might be ready for an EU summit in October and ruled out renegotiating the reform treaty.
The BBC's Mark Mardell looks at the options open to EU leaders after the Irish voteThe BBC's Mark Mardell looks at the options open to EU leaders after the Irish vote
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 president of the commission urged other EU members to continue with ratification.
He has also been pressing for the two-day summit to focus on other issues such as fuel and food prices.
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.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this was one reason "why we all must have a passionate interest in the Lisbon Treaty taking effect quickly".German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this was one reason "why we all must have a passionate interest in the Lisbon Treaty taking effect quickly".
But how that will happen remains unclear.But how that will happen remains unclear.
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.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.
"It is necessary for Ireland to have time now to analyse last week's vote and explore options," Mr Cowen said."It is necessary for Ireland to have time now to analyse last week's vote and explore options," Mr Cowen said.
"It is far too early yet for anybody to put forward proposals," he added. "It is far too early yet for anybody to put forward proposals."
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 Mardell blog: The meaning of "No"EU crisis: The same, but different Cuba awaits sanctions decisionLISBON 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 Mardell blog: The meaning of "No"EU crisis: The same, but different Cuba awaits sanctions decision
Mr Barroso suggested decisions on the treaty be put off until October.
Britain's Mr Miliband said he did not "detect any appetite" for a renegotiation of the treaty.
At the summit, 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.
And the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, insisted that accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey would continue despite the Lisbon Treaty ratification problem. The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, insisted that accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey would continue despite the Lisbon Treaty ratification problem.
"No-one thinks the negotiations with Turkey will be halted," he told reporters in Brussels."No-one thinks the negotiations with Turkey will be halted," he told reporters in Brussels.
"Only Turkey itself could do that, if for example the AKP [the ruling party] is banned. Then it would be a totally new situation with the negotiations... Turkey itself could create a difficult situation."
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.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.