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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Irish ready to hold new EU vote | Irish ready to hold new EU vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Irish Republic is willing to hold a second referendum on the EU's reform treaty if given certain guarantees by the EU, a spokesman has told the BBC. | The Irish Republic is willing to hold a second referendum on the EU's reform treaty if given certain guarantees by the EU, a spokesman has told the BBC. |
| Those legally binding guarantees are to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit getting under way in Brussels. | Those legally binding guarantees are to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit getting under way in Brussels. |
| The Lisbon Treaty has been on ice since being rejected by Irish voters in June. | The Lisbon Treaty has been on ice since being rejected by Irish voters in June. |
| The summit is also due to take crucial decisions on EU measures to tackle climate change, and to consider an EU-wide economic stimulus plan. | The summit is also due to take crucial decisions on EU measures to tackle climate change, and to consider an EU-wide economic stimulus plan. |
| The mechanism for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are being presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and which have been seen by the BBC. | The mechanism for a second referendum is included in draft conclusions which are being presented by the current holders of the EU presidency, France, and which have been seen by the BBC. |
| According to the draft, the Irish government says "it is committed to seeking ratification" of the Lisbon Treaty by end of October next year. Sarkozy looks like a man who likes nothing better than being at the centre of a crisis, unless it's being at the centre of four of them at once BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Mark Mardell's summit blog class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6901353.stm">Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty | |
| An Irish government spokesman told the BBC that it was "seeking legally binding instruments to address the concerns of the Irish people", and that once it got those assurances, it would present "a roadmap for ratification", that would include another referendum. | An Irish government spokesman told the BBC that it was "seeking legally binding instruments to address the concerns of the Irish people", and that once it got those assurances, it would present "a roadmap for ratification", that would include another referendum. |
| The EU is set to offer guarantees that the treaty will not affect three main areas of concern to Irish "No" voters - abortion, Irish neutrality and taxation, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. | The EU is set to offer guarantees that the treaty will not affect three main areas of concern to Irish "No" voters - abortion, Irish neutrality and taxation, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. |
| Ireland is also likely to be able to keep its EU commissioner. | Ireland is also likely to be able to keep its EU commissioner. |
| The treaty is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the enlarged 27-nation EU. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThis whole episode makes a mockery of the political process. With 27 member states there cannot be a one size fits all approach to everything. Bert Trautmann, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5792&edition=2&ttl=20081211121151">Send us your comments | |
| It cannot take effect unless all 27 states ratify it. But Irish voters rejected it in a referendum and objections have held up its ratification in the Czech Republic and Poland. | It cannot take effect unless all 27 states ratify it. But Irish voters rejected it in a referendum and objections have held up its ratification in the Czech Republic and Poland. |
| Critics see the treaty as further evidence of a federalist, pro-integration agenda at work in the EU. | Critics see the treaty as further evidence of a federalist, pro-integration agenda at work in the EU. |
| Even some of its architects say it is just a modified version of the EU constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. | Even some of its architects say it is just a modified version of the EU constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. |
| Credibility at stake | Credibility at stake |
| EU leaders will pore over and work on the summit conclusions before they are published on Friday. | EU leaders will pore over and work on the summit conclusions before they are published on Friday. |
| They also face a major test of their willingness to tackle climate change, with a key agreement on cutting the EU's carbon pollution at stake. | They also face a major test of their willingness to tackle climate change, with a key agreement on cutting the EU's carbon pollution at stake. |
| Amid the economic downturn, Germany, Italy and Poland, among others, are fighting any deal that could cost jobs. EU 20-20-20 TARGETS 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 202020% increase in use of renewable energy by 202020% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7773289.stm">France races to clinch EU deals class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/portal/climate_change/default.stm">In depth: Climate change class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7765094.stm">EU climate package explained | |
| The "20-20-20" package, which also requires approval by the European Parliament to become law, commits the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, and to raising renewable sources to 20% of total energy use. | The "20-20-20" package, which also requires approval by the European Parliament to become law, commits the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, and to raising renewable sources to 20% of total energy use. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pushing hard to clinch a deal before he hands over the rotating presidency of the EU to the Czech Republic at the end of the year. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pushing hard to clinch a deal before he hands over the rotating presidency of the EU to the Czech Republic at the end of the year. |
| "It is a question of credibility," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday. | "It is a question of credibility," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday. |
| "It would be a real mistake for Europe to give the signal that we are watering down our position, after all these years leading the efforts for a global solution." | "It would be a real mistake for Europe to give the signal that we are watering down our position, after all these years leading the efforts for a global solution." |
| He described the summit as "perhaps the most crucial European Council in recent years... and the most important in which I have participated as Commission president". | He described the summit as "perhaps the most crucial European Council in recent years... and the most important in which I have participated as Commission president". |
| Employment worries | Employment worries |
| Germany and Italy have expressed concern that their industries could be put at an international disadvantage if the CO2 targets are too ambitious. | Germany and Italy have expressed concern that their industries could be put at an international disadvantage if the CO2 targets are too ambitious. |
| "If I see that Italian interests will be hurt in an excessive way, I will use our veto rights," said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday. | "If I see that Italian interests will be hurt in an excessive way, I will use our veto rights," said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday. |
| "There will be no climate decisions that will endanger German jobs or investments. I will take care of that," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | "There will be no climate decisions that will endanger German jobs or investments. I will take care of that," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Also up for discussion is the EU's $260bn (£175bn) economic stimulus plan. | Also up for discussion is the EU's $260bn (£175bn) economic stimulus plan. |
| With recession looming, there will be broad agreement on the EU-wide package to boost the economy, although Germany opposes calls from Britain and France to cut taxes, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. | With recession looming, there will be broad agreement on the EU-wide package to boost the economy, although Germany opposes calls from Britain and France to cut taxes, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. |