Treaty will help EU to tackle economic crisis

IN his letter (July 20), Denis Cooper stated that “there are no provisions in the Lisbon Treaty which could conceivably speed the emergence of Ireland or any other EU member state from the recession”.

Mr Cooper presents a false view of the treaty. The way in which it will help Ireland and Europe tackle the economic crisis is by giving the EU the means to be united on such issues. For example, the treaty creates new institutions such as the president of the European Council, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and a new external action service to forge common positions that balance the interests of all members. The treaty will make it easier to achieve unanimity on financial, environmental and crime issues that affect all 27 member states. There are many provisions in the treaty aimed at helping member states act more cohesively in tackling global crises.

Eugene Murphy