EUROPEAN COMMISSION president Hans-Gert Pöttering has called on Irish voters to back the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum, warning that a No vote would damage Europe.
“Europe would not be able to act as it should be able to in the 21st century. I do hope and trust Ireland will vote Yes,” Mr Pöttering told journalists at the final plenary session at the European Parliament yesterday before the European elections take place in early June.
He said Ireland was in a very difficult situation and he didn’t think the public wanted to face these challenges alone. “They will look to Europe,” said Mr Pöttering.
Ireland remains the biggest single hurdle to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty following the Czech senate’s ratification. However, the German constitutional court must still rule on the treaty’s compatibility with the German constitution and the Polish, German and Czech presidents must also sign the treaty to allow it to enter into force.
The parliament is already preparing the ground for the implementation of the treaty, a move that has angered Sinn Féin, which claims this is “prejudging” the Irish vote. Last night in Strasbourg, MEPs debated five different reports that outline how the changes to the decision-making structure of the union through Lisbon should be implemented.
But deep concerns remain that any delay to ratification in Ireland could enable a newly elected Conservative government in Britain to rescind London’s ratification of Lisbon.
“The Conservatives will hold a referendum, which will be lost because the British public is fed on anti-EU propaganda. Lisbon will not then go ahead and this will give rise to a two-tier Europe. This is not in Ireland’s interests as we could then be left behind,” said Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell, who wants a summer rather than October referendum.
British MEP Nigel Farrage, who is leader of the UK Independence Party, strongly criticised Mr Pöttering’s performance as president of the parliament because of his tireless support for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
“You are nationalistic, bullying, threatening and anti-democratic. You are a complete shower,” he said in a speech.
Mr Pöttering said that the fact Mr Farrage was able to make a speech like that in the plenary session was evidence of the democratic nature of the parliament.
Later today, the parliament will dissolve and meet again in July to appoint a new president and ratify the Council of Ministers’ choice of the new president of the European Commission.