EU attitudes harden towards Irish over Lisbon rejection

ATTITUDES to Ireland are hardening across the European Union and the Taoiseach’s message to the summit of his fellow leaders this week will do little to soften that.

His main message will be that Ireland will not be revisiting the Lisbon treaty in the next 12 months, and so the European Parliament elections must be held under the rules of the Nice treaty.

MEPs from several countries have already said this does not suit them as they fear voters will make the treaty the main issue and ignore pressing economic, climate and social problems.