European Commission to research Ireland’s change of heart
The celebrations in Kitty O’Shea’s pub opposite the European Commission in Brussels on Saturday afternoon were a little less boisterous than after last year’s No vote.
Then, it was mostly British eurosceptics toasting the Irish electorate with pints wiped on mats featuring the tricolour.
This time the festivities were led by former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who set off the train of events eight years ago that resulted in the Lisbon Treaty.
Not waiting for the final result, the MEP and leader of the Liberal group, of which independent MEP Marion Harkin is a member and which Fianna Fáil joined a few months ago, hosted pints and burgers for party supporters in Kitty’s from noon.
His “baby” had finally been revived and looks like being born, whenever the Polish and Czech presidents can be persuaded to sign it.
“Today is a beautiful day forEurope. With the Irish Yes, all the citizens of Europe, directly or indirectly, said Yes to the Lisbon Treaty. Today is the first day of a new future for Europe, united, democratic,effective and strong,” he said.
Some Irish ex-pats not at home for the vote turned up in Kitty’s too, including spokesperson for the Europe for Ireland group Jim Murray.
Writing his blog in a corner of the pub, he said the size of the Yes vote was important. “The future will show the worst fears of those who voted No were not well founded, we believe,” he said.
A fair crowd of journalists turned up, as did some Irish officials including Secretary General of the Commission, Dubliner Catherine Day, to hear the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso thank Ireland for what he described as a resounding Yes to Europe.
“I see the Yes vote as a sign of confidence by the Irish people in the European Union, as a sign of their desire to be wholehearted members at the heart of the European Union,” he said.
Vice-president Margot Walstrom said that, as was the case after the last referendum, they will carry out a survey of why people voted they way they did.
“It will help us understand the hopes and concerns of all voters and in the years to come we should not forget these hopes and concerns,” she said.
Foreign relations chief Javier Solana, due to resign before the Lisbon Treaty that would expand his job comes into force, said of the Irish Yes vote: “This will allow for a more united and efficient Europe that will be better able to defend the rights and interests of all the citizens and states of the EU and play a greater role in the world.”
Attention though, was quickly turned to the next stage – ensuring that the Polish and Czech presidents sign the treaty that has been ratified by their parliaments.
Arnaldo Abruzzini, the Eurochambres Secretary General, said now that Ireland had affirmed its credentials as a forward-looking member state, they would call on the remaining countries to hasten their ratification process. “Now more than ever with this period of economic turmoil we need a strong and united outlook in Europe,” he said.
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