>> ASIAONE / NEWS / ASIAONE NEWS / WORLD / STORY
Ireland completes ratification of Lisbon Treaty
Fri, Oct 16, 2009
AFP

DUBLIN, Ireland - Ireland completed its ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty on Thursday, intensifying the pressure on the Czech Republic to overcome its objections and become the final member state to pass the treaty.

Irish President Mary McAleese announced she had signed a special legal instrument following a Yes vote in this month's referendum.

A statement from the president's office said she had "signed the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009".

In a second referendum on October 2, Ireland voted by 67 per cent to 33 per cent to ratify the treaty, overturning a shock No vote in June 2008 which left the European Union in limbo.

Ireland is the only EU country constitutionally obliged to put the treaty - which is designed to streamline decision-making in the 27-nation bloc - to a referendum.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen agreed to hold another poll after securing guarantees from its EU partners on the Catholic country's abortion ban, its military neutrality and its tax-setting rights.

But economic factors appear to have been the main factor in the minds of voters.

In this year's campaign, the government warned voters against rejecting the treaty at a time when Ireland needs help from its European partners to recover from a deep recession.

The treaty must be ratified by all member states, but Czech President Vaclav Klaus has insisted he will not drop his objections to the document despite mounting pressure from the rest of the bloc.

On Thursday, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer said his cabinet and Klaus were in talks about securing an opt-out from the treaty to prevent ethnic Germans forced out of the country after World War II from reclaiming their property.

 

 
STORY INDEX
 
  Ireland completes ratification of Lisbon Treaty
   
 
  Children at 5 'too young' to start school
   
 
  Nine-year-old to Obama: "why do people hate you?"
   
 
  Sarkozy rejects nepotism charge over job for son
   
 
  Boy in balloon drama found alive: US police
   
 
  US House votes to allow Guantanamo transfers to US
   
 
  Israel raps Turkish envoy over "hateful" TV programme
   
 
  Homemade US balloon with boy feared inside lands
   
 
  Fatah signs Palestinian unity deal
   
 
  Obama vows not to forget New Orleans
   

Elsewhere in AsiaOne...

Travel: Irish pubs and grub

Motoring: 1 in 6 Irish drivers has never passed driving test

 

We welcome contributions, comments and tips.
a1admin@sph.com.sg