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TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen had a good EU summit in Brussels over the last two days. He secured guarantees that most of the clarifications sought by the Government on how the Lisbon Treaty applies to Ireland will have strong legal effect. This was a risky strategy because other governments might not have agreed, leaving him vulnerable in the second referendum on the treaty to be held in early October. But it was worth the effort, since the ground is now cleared for him to lead the vigorous campaign required with confidence that many of the fears and doubts about its contents can be allayed.

The summit conclusions spell out that other EU member states do not need to ratify the treaty again on foot of the guarantees given to Ireland. That assurance was especially important for British prime minister Gordon Brown, facing a Conservative opposition hostile to the treaty. The conclusions say explicitly that these are legally binding decisions which clarify but do not change the treaty text. This further confirms that the ratifications already made by other member states stand. The one substantive change since last year’s referendum, that each member state will retain a European commissioner, will be made on foot of a political not a textual decision – but only if the treaty is ratified here and elsewhere.