Irish treaty referendum on Thursday
After a crisis period in the European Union, the no vote of the French and Dutch on the constitutional treaty, all eyes are on the Irish. Ireland will be holding a referendum on the latest EU treaty, which is set to replace the former EU constitution. Polls indicate there are still a lot of votes to be won in Ireland, with yes and no votes pretty much evenly divided. Ireland is the only country in the European Union that is holding a referendum. The country is bound by law to do so, as any change to its constitution requires a referendum. A no vote on Thursday could stall ratification in other EU countries, as 12 members still have to ratify it.
All eyes are on Ireland this week as the European Union awaits the result of the country’s EU treaty referendum on Thursday with a mixture of relief that the day has finally come around and fear that it may bring a “no” vote.
For much of the past half year, Ireland’s lonely referendum route – it is the only one of the 27 member states to undergo the more unpredictable public poll rather than parliamentary ratification – has been the main topic of conversation in Brussels.
But while discussion in the EU capital has been feverish, actual political activity has slowed appreciably as the bloc’s institutions and its officials have sought not to upset the Irish electorate with controversial new announcements. “Only after the Irish referendum” has been the familiar if unofficial refrain among EU diplomats.
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Administrator @ June 9, 2008