The Lisbon Treaty Referendum: 2nd October 2009

Today is a big day in Ireland and in Europe; a big political day. 2 words: Lisbon Treaty.

A little background:

The Lisbon Treaty is an international agreement signed on the 13th December 2007 in Lisbon and was meant to change the working ways of the European Union (EU). The Treaty has not been approved by all members of the EU (27 members) in order for it to take effect.

Examples of some of the proposed changes by the Treaty:

• More qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers. TRANSLATION: Currently, under the Quality Majority Voting system, each member state's vote is given a weighting. This is not directly proportionate to the population, but gives smaller countries a greater share than their populations would warrant under a dierctly proportional arrangement. The Treaty would increase the number of areas where Quality Majority Voting (QMV) will apply.
• Increased involvement of the European Parliament in the legislative process through extended co-decision with the Council of Ministers. TRANSLATION: The Treaty proposes to increase the decision-making powers of the European Parliament. Co-decision would apply to a number of new areas including: Agriculture, Asylum, and Immigration from non-EU countries. European Parliament and Council of Ministers will have joint decision-making powers over the entire EU budget.
• The creation of a President of the European Council with a term of two and half years and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs to present a united position on EU policies.

History:

Negotiations to modify EU institutions began in 2001, resulting first in the European Constitution, which failed (2005) due to rejection by French and Dutch voters. The Lisbon Treaty became the rebirth of the constitution; it was originally intended to have been ratified by all member states by the end of 2008, so it could come into force before the 2009 European elections. However, the rejection of the Treaty on 12 June 2008 by Irish voters means that the treaty cannot currently come into force. As of now 25 of the total 27 member states have ratified the Treaty. Ireland being the country the EU is waiting for and the only country to have a 2nd referendum on the Treaty. "

"Ireland is the only EU country constitutionally obliged to put the treaty to a referendum.
Poland and the Czech Republic are the only other countries that have yet to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.There has been sustained interest in Europe in the result of the Irish referendum, with an awareness across capitals that the Lisbon Treaty will stand or fall on the Irish vote." (Taken from msn.ie)

Today is a BIG day for European politics.