Irish Change Minds on Lisbon Treaty, Vote "Yes"

Yesterday, the Irish electorate marched down to the polls to undo what they had done in June 2008. Then, they had turned down the Lisbon Treaty that would more closely unite the countries in the European Union. One major economic meltdown later, and the Irish suddenly realized that they occupied a rather unimportant island off the coast of Europe. As one analyst put it, "having gone from the Ritz to the pits woke Ireland up." This time, they voted "Yes" with about a 2/3 majority.

The Lisbon Treaty isn't the same thing as the attempted European Constitution, that Jacques Chirac offered Europeans some years ago. The Constitution was to replace existing treaties like the the Treaty on the European Union (usually called the Maastricht Treaty) and the Treaty Establishing the European Community (the Treaty of Rome). Instead, the Lisbon Treaty merely amends these, making less radical a shift.

However, the differences aren't all that great in practical terms. Over the next ten years, the Lisbon deal will create a High Representative for foreign affairs (Henry Kissinger once asked, "if I want to talk to Europe, who do I call?" Well, now there's an answer to that query) as would the Constitution. Qualified majority voting instead of unanimity will continue, and expand. There will be a President of Europe, or at least of the European Union.

Ireland's campaign was largely a rerun of the 2008 race, but with a significant difference. The Yes slogan was "Yes to Europe, Yes to Recovery." Clearly, the Irish in June 2008, weren't too worried about losing jobs, bank accounts and houses. Now, they are. The No effort merely mocked the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen with the slogan "the only job Lisbon saves is his." The truth is that small economies in Europe are better off the closer the Union becomes just as Rhode Island and Connecticut benefit more from the American federation than California or Texas.

Still to go on the Lisbon Treaty ratification front are Poland and the Czech Republic. Poland is likely to ratify the deal now that Ireland has done the same. The Czechs are not going to be the cause of a European failure, but their president, Vaclav Klaus, is a noted anti-EU politico. A Czech court is reviewing the Lisbon Treaty's constitutionality, and Mr. Klaus is looking for assurances about opt-outs from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Still, with Ireland backing the Lisbon Treaty, and Poland's signature almost inevitable, Mr. Klaus will likely yield before the month is out.

© Copyright 2009 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Kensington Review Home