Mix of shock and delight greet result

DISAPPOINTMENT and shock were the reactions from European leaders to Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty while groups opposed to it were delighted and demanding a complete re-negotiation of the deal.

The only country that came close to being happy with the Irish result was the Czech republic that could have problems approving it before the January deadline as its senate has submitted it to constitutional court for approval.

The Czech government, which is largely eurosceptic, will take over the rotating union presidency next January and has been preparing two programmes to deal with whether the new provisions of Lisbon come into force or not. Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Alexander Vondra, suggested the treaty is now dead and said, “If they vote no, I think legally it is pretty clear that each country must ratify the treaty before it could enter into force.”

The French and German governments issued a joint statement after speaking to the Taoiseach Brian Cowan, saying they regretted but respected the decision of the Irish people. However in line with the thrust from other member states, the French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that since 18 countries have ratified the treaty, the process should continue.

“We are convinced that the reforms contained in the treaty of Lisbon are needed to make Europe more democratic and efficient and will enable it to meet the challenges facing its citizens,” their statement said.

France takes over the presidency of the union in July for six months and had hoped to prepare to implement many of the changes in the Lisbon treaty.

Now, however, their presidency will be taken up with deciding how to salvage Lisbon or get by with the existing Nice treaty and the reduction in Commissioners by 2009 rather than in 2014 under Lisbon.

Irish Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said that the vote was not against the European Union but a myriad of other issues and politicians needed to learn from this.

Not everybody was so understanding though. British Liberal MEP, Andrew Duff, who was involved in drawing up the failed constitution, had some harsh words for the no camp.

“The nay sayers were such a poisonous cocktail of Trotskyists, neo cons, greedy farmers and the strong presence of British eurosceptics patronising Irish people that I found to be a throw back to the colonial period. As a result a solution is not easy. There is a sense that the Irish feel themselves to be like David confronting Goliath and they have a sense of self esteem which is — with a greatest respect and fondness — exaggerated,” he said.

The GUE group in the European Parliament, to which Sinn Féin belongs, enthusiastically welcomed the result. “Without this kind of jolt, there is no chance that the debate can open up about what must change in the orientations and structures of the EU”, said its president Francis Wurtz.

Former Danish MEP, Jens Peter Bonde who campaigned for a no vote here said: “The Irish referendum was a convincing no from all areas, except from the prime minister’s own constituency and a couple of upper class constituencies”.

Foreign Minister Micheál Martin will discuss the outcome of the vote with ministers on Monday while discussions will go on between the ambassadors of each EU country leading up to the leaders summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, which Taoiseach Brian Cowan will attend.