Irish Reject Lisbon Treaty. |History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe

Today, the results from Ireland's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty have been revealed. Ireland is the only member state of the European Union expected to hold a referendum on the treaty--which has many similarities to the defunct Constitution for Europe--as the country is required by its own constitution to hold a referendum on treaties or laws which would alter the Irish constitution. With most member states' parliaments expected to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, the some 1.5 million Irish who voted were voting on behalf of the more than 490 million EU citizens over whether or not the Lisbon Treaty should be passed to reform the EU and streamline the European institution.

The Irish have responded with a resounding vote 'No.'

Many Irish could not comprehend the wording of the treaty, and wisely figured that a legal agreement should not be signed unless it is understood. Indeed, as opposed to the would-be EU Constitution, the Lisbon Treaty is a mishmash of earlier treaties and utilizes confusing legal jargon. You can have a look for yourself, here, and see whether or not you can make heads or tails of the contract.

So, what now?

Many analysts have speculated whether Ireland would be forced to take another stab at Lisbon if they should first reject the treaty, and vote again in the hope that the Irish would agree to the Lisbon Treaty on a second try, the way they have before. Some quarters consider this to be implausible as the European Union has come under criticism for being undemocratic. Forcing a member state's electorate to vote and vote again until they pass the Lisbon Treaty would almost seem as though the European Union was looking for a rubber stamp approval from its people. After France and the Netherlands, two influential founding members of what would become the EU, the Constitution for Europe was scuppered rather than forcing those large and powerful member states from re-voting (though that could also be because such were French and Dutch attitudes toward the EU Constitution, that they would have probably rejected the treat again, and dealt it a second blow).

Without the Lisbon Treaty or the Constitution for Europe, the EU would be legally hindered from expanding beyond 27 member states, which the organization already has. Furthermore, passing EU law could become more difficult if approval from each of those 27 states were required and if each of those countries were given a position on the EU Commission. In foreign affairs, a more divided European Union would have a more divided voice, a weaker voice, across the globe.

And yet many of those opposed to the way Lisbon was peddled have a strong case. In a democratic system, the citizenry should have a say in the passage of major laws which would affect them. The people should at least be consulted. At most, the formation of the Lisbon Treaty and its ratification was indirect, with the exception of Ireland.

For the sake of the European Union, many of the points of the Constitution for Europe and the Lisbon Treaty should be made law. The EU should be reformed so that it can work more effectively, efficiently, and can have a greater influence for its people.

But the European Union should also be reformed so that it is more democratic, and reflects the will of the people it is supposed to serve.

--------
Found this article interesting? Check out:
The Roadmap to the Future.
The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
The Roadmap to the Future--Asia.
The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries.