EU leaders have agreed a deal they hope will secure the Lisbon Treaty a "Yes" vote in a second Irish referendum. Ireland won legally-binding assurances that Lisbon would not affect Irish policies on military neutrality, taxes and abortion, diplomats said.
Ireland won legally-binding assurances that Lisbon would not affect Irish policies on military neutrality, taxes and abortion, diplomats said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said leaders had agreed to Irish demands that the guarantees would be given the status of a treaty "protocol". But he stressed it would not affect the other 26 member countries.
But he stressed it would not affect the other 26 member countries.
A compromise was reached today (19 June) between EU leaders offering Ireland legally-binding guarantees on the Lisbon Treaty without requiring other countries to re-ratify the text. The carefully-worded agreement provides assurances sought by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, but also stresses that the guarantees are Ireland-specific and do not affect other countries. Crucially, this satisfies the Irish government without requiring re-ratification by countries which have already backed the treaty. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had yesterday raised concerns that any substantive change to the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been approved by national parliaments, would require the House of Commons to approve the treaty once more. Brown, who has been facing domestic political problems in recent weeks, was reluctant to re-open the debate on the treaty. Close contacts between British and Irish officials resulted in the inclusion of additional paragraphs in the final conclusions issued by EU leaders.
The carefully-worded agreement provides assurances sought by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, but also stresses that the guarantees are Ireland-specific and do not affect other countries. Crucially, this satisfies the Irish government without requiring re-ratification by countries which have already backed the treaty.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had yesterday raised concerns that any substantive change to the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been approved by national parliaments, would require the House of Commons to approve the treaty once more.
Brown, who has been facing domestic political problems in recent weeks, was reluctant to re-open the debate on the treaty. Close contacts between British and Irish officials resulted in the inclusion of additional paragraphs in the final conclusions issued by EU leaders.
