Austria's chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, has said that if any changes are made to the Lisbon Treaty following its rejection by Irish voters earlier this month, then it should be put to a referendum in his country.

"We think any future changes to the treaty that affect Austrian interests must be decided in Austria by a referendum," Mr Gusenbauer said in an open letter published in tabloid daily Kronen Zeitung.

The mood among the population is too negative, says Mr Gusenbauer (l)

"A lot of people are under the impression that the EU is not concerned with their real problems but that it is interested above all in looking after itself."

The letter was also signed by the president of the Social Democrats, Werner Faymann.

The social democrats are part of the ruling coalition, along with the centre-right Austrian People's Party, in Austria.