EU treaty change to allow permanent bailout fund ‘will not need referendum’

CHANGING the EU treaty to allow for a permanent eurozone bailout mechanism post-2013 will not need to be put to a referendum here, according to Europe Minister Dick Roche. The wording of the amendment is due to be approved by EU leaders at their summit in Brussels tomorrow.

Mr Roche, who attended a foreign ministers meeting to discuss the change, said: “This text is ideal for our purposes.”

The Government, and the EU member states generally, want to avoid having citizens vote on it following the difficulties getting the Lisbon Treaty passed.