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Irish ready to hold new EU vote Irish ready to hold new EU vote
(about 4 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 in Brussels.Those legally binding guarantees are to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit 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.
Opening the meeting on Thursday French President Nicolas Sarkozy, chairing the summit, said he hoped his fellow leaders would be able to unite on a climate package.Opening the meeting on Thursday French President Nicolas Sarkozy, chairing the summit, said he hoped his fellow leaders would be able to unite on a climate package.
"Europe must not provide the spectacle of its own division," he said."Europe must not provide the spectacle of its own division," he said.
'Anti-democratic''Anti-democratic'
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 Mark Mardell's summit blogQ&A: The Lisbon Treaty According to the draft, the Irish government says "it is committed to seeking ratification" of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of October 2009. 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 Mark Mardell's summit blogQ&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. Ireland was "seeking legally binding instruments to address the concerns of the Irish people", a government spokesman told the BBC.
Once it got those assurances, it would present "a roadmap for ratification", that would include another referendum, the spokesman added.
Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the European Parliament, said a wide-ranging consultation with the Irish people was needed. He said dialogue with Irish citizens before the first vote in June "was not serious enough".
"We hope for a solution by the end of next year," he said. "Realistically it won't be the case before the European elections in June."
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.
Barroso on Ireland's EU voteBarroso on Ireland's EU vote
But Declan Ganley, the chairman of the Libertas group that led the No campaign in the first Irish referendum, said this was an example of the Irish being dictated to.But Declan Ganley, the chairman of the Libertas group that led the No campaign in the first Irish referendum, said this was an example of the Irish being dictated to.
"Do we think that democracy is important in Europe or do we want to exist in some post-democratic environment where European affairs are concerned?" he said."Do we think that democracy is important in Europe or do we want to exist in some post-democratic environment where European affairs are concerned?" he said.
He also announced that his Libertas group would be standing on an anti-treaty platform across the EU during next year's parliamentary elections.He also announced that his Libertas group would be standing on an anti-treaty platform across the EU during next year's parliamentary elections.
Credibility at stakeCredibility 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.
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, UKSend us your commentsHAVE 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, UKSend us your comments
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.
Mr Poettering said the parliament needed to find a compromise.
"It wouldn't help anyone if industry simply relocates to China or somewhere," he said. "The important thing is that Europe remains in front on this."
Amid the economic downturn, Germany, Italy and Poland, among others, are fighting any deal that could cost jobs.Amid the economic downturn, Germany, Italy and Poland, among others, are fighting any deal that could cost jobs.
Poland's Europe Minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz said there would be long negotiations over the package, including Poland's proposal for a central "solidarity" fund to help poorer nations cope with CO2 measures.Poland's Europe Minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz said there would be long negotiations over the package, including Poland's proposal for a central "solidarity" fund to help poorer nations cope with CO2 measures.
"It's going to be a three or four-shirt summit. We've booked tickets for Sunday morning..." he told the BBC."It's going to be a three or four-shirt summit. We've booked tickets for Sunday morning..." he told the BBC.
"There's a number of issues which are still open, everything from the financing of CCS [carbon storage] to the solidarity fund - this is still on the table... we don't really know what the compromise will be.""There's a number of issues which are still open, everything from the financing of CCS [carbon storage] to the solidarity fund - this is still on the table... we don't really know what the compromise will be."
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 France races to clinch EU dealsIn depth: Climate changeEU climate package explainedEU 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 France races to clinch EU dealsIn depth: Climate changeEU 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.
President 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.President 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.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "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."European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "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."
Also up for discussion is the EU's 200bn-euro (£175bn) economic stimulus plan.Also up for discussion is the EU's 200bn-euro (£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.