Corporate chiefs’ dismay at no vote

The heads of some of Western Europe’s biggest companies have expressed disappointment at Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon treaty, saying that the no vote is effectively bad for business.

The Financial Times quoted the chief executives of three companies — Adidas, Siemens and Austrian oil and gas firm, OMV — as saying the Irish no vote could weaken the EU’s competitive position against the likes of Russia, the Middle East and Asia.

“It’s not good if the Germans and the French and the Italians handle energy questions directly with the Russians, with the Kazakhs. It is better if there is a European position,” said OMV chief executive, Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer.