Green support for Lisbon far from secure, says de Burca
Green Party members’ support for any new Lisbon Treaty referendum cannot be taken for granted, Senator Deirdre de Burca warned today.
The party’s European affairs spokesperson, and European Parliament election candidate for Dublin, said that several months of detailed negotiations with Ireland’s EU partners now lay ahead. She said the very possibility of putting the issue before the people depended upon a successful outcome in these discussions.
“I am encouraged that EU leaders have agreed in principle to give Ireland legally-binding guarantees on key headings. But that is just the start – unless the detail of these issues is addressed there can be no referendum at all. And ahead of any such eventuality, Green Party members will have to decide their own stance on the issue. A two-thirds majority is required before the party can back any new vote.”
Senator de Burca said detailed negotiations would soon open on the following headings:
-Continued Commission representation
She said it was a positive sign that forthcoming talks would take place under the aegis of the so-called ‘EU Troika’ – or three most recent EU presidencies. In practice this meant the French outgoing presidency, the incoming Czech presidency, and the Swedes – who take over in the second half of next year.
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy has helped the Irish government during his period in the EU Chair, the Czechs are known to have taken a somewhat sceptical stance, while the Swedes have also had their difficulties with EU issues in the past. This will help us get a thorough hearing,” concluded Senator de Burca.
