Ireland's Prime Minister Brian Cowen (photo), a proponent of the Lisbon Treaty, is out campaigning for a 'Yes' vote ahead of Ireland's referendum on the subject on October 2. Europe's powers say a 'No' vote would paralyse the EU. Reuters - Europe's big powers are banking on Irish voters backing reforms to make the European Union a stronger player on the world stage and avert a crisis they fear could paralyse the 27-nation bloc. Irish approval for the EU's Lisbon treaty in a referendum on Friday would clear an obstacle to streamlining decision-making and put pressure on the Polish and Czech presidents to follow other EU leaders by signing it into law. Rejection could delay moves towards closer EU integration and enlargement, and undermine public and investor confidence, at least briefly hitting the euro currency. "There's a sense it's going to be a 'Yes' vote," Hugo Brady, of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, told Reuters.
Reuters - Europe's big powers are banking on Irish voters backing reforms to make the European Union a stronger player on the world stage and avert a crisis they fear could paralyse the 27-nation bloc.
Irish approval for the EU's Lisbon treaty in a referendum on Friday would clear an obstacle to streamlining decision-making and put pressure on the Polish and Czech presidents to follow other EU leaders by signing it into law.
Rejection could delay moves towards closer EU integration and enlargement, and undermine public and investor confidence, at least briefly hitting the euro currency.
"There's a sense it's going to be a 'Yes' vote," Hugo Brady, of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, told Reuters.
Europeans are spellbound as they look to Dublin in the run-up to a second referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon and the future of the European Union on Friday. Many believe a "yes" vote will come, but the "no" camp is still formidable and many voters remain undecided. Andrew Byrne had planned to move to Belgium to pursue a masters degree. Suddenly, though, it became clear to him that he had something more important to do first -- he needed to stay and protect his country from the catastrophe of isolation. "This decision is too important to leave it to the politicians." says Byrne, 24. So he took a year off and in December founded Generation Yes. It's an initiative comprised of young people, independent of any political or business interests, who are promoting the European Union. Byrne wants to convince his fellow Irish to vote "yes" on Oct. 2 when the country goes to the polls for a repeat of the failed 2008 referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty, a successor to the 2005 failed attempt at adopting a European Constitution, is meant to streamline EU decision-making and establish the new position of a president who will represent the EU on the international stage. Byrne isn't alone. Dozens of volunteers are helping him -- working without pay, nearly around the clock. Not a single volunteer is older than 27. They explain the treaty over the Internet, Facebook and through Twitter. And every day they take their message to the streets, handing out informational brochures about what they see as a "fateful vote." "Talking to people is the most effective way of winning somebody's vote," Byrne explains.
Europeans are spellbound as they look to Dublin in the run-up to a second referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon and the future of the European Union on Friday. Many believe a "yes" vote will come, but the "no" camp is still formidable and many voters remain undecided.
Andrew Byrne had planned to move to Belgium to pursue a masters degree. Suddenly, though, it became clear to him that he had something more important to do first -- he needed to stay and protect his country from the catastrophe of isolation.
"This decision is too important to leave it to the politicians." says Byrne, 24. So he took a year off and in December founded Generation Yes. It's an initiative comprised of young people, independent of any political or business interests, who are promoting the European Union. Byrne wants to convince his fellow Irish to vote "yes" on Oct. 2 when the country goes to the polls for a repeat of the failed 2008 referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty, a successor to the 2005 failed attempt at adopting a European Constitution, is meant to streamline EU decision-making and establish the new position of a president who will represent the EU on the international stage.
Byrne isn't alone. Dozens of volunteers are helping him -- working without pay, nearly around the clock. Not a single volunteer is older than 27. They explain the treaty over the Internet, Facebook and through Twitter. And every day they take their message to the streets, handing out informational brochures about what they see as a "fateful vote." "Talking to people is the most effective way of winning somebody's vote," Byrne explains.
