European Union foreign ministers are gathering in Luxembourg for talks on how to respond to the Irish rejection of the Lisbon reform treaty.
Voters in the Irish Republic, the only state to hold a referendum on Lisbon, rejected the treaty by 53.4% to 46.6% last Thursday. The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states. But the majority of EU members agree that those who have yet to ratify the treaty should carry on and do so. The treaty is aimed at helping the EU to cope with its expansion into eastern Europe. It provides for a streamlining of the European Commission, the removal of the national veto in more policy areas, a new president of the European Council and a strengthened foreign affairs post. EU looks to pick up pieces after Irish traty shock ...
Brussels Gloomy as Irish Say 'No' to the EU Reform Treaty ... It is due to come into force on 1 January 2009.
(Deutsche Welle)
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