EU commission chief 'optimistic' over stalled treaty

The president of the European commission has voiced optimism that the stalled Lisbon treaty will still be ratified.

José Manuel Barroso said he hoped the treaty will come into force “before too long."

The Portuguese official told this website that the treaty was vital to the future of the EU which, he said, had been a “model” of economic and political integration.

He was speaking after giving a keynote speech in Brussels to mark the contribution political foundations have made to Europe.

His comments come as a new poll in the Irish Times revealed that a second referendum on the treaty has a chance of being carried.

The poll shows that more people would be likely to vote Yes if the treaty was modified to allow Ireland to retain an EU commissioner and other Irish concerns on neutrality, abortion and taxation were clarified.

The treaty was defeated in Ireland in June when 53.4 per cent of Irish voters cast No votes compared to 46.6 per cent who voted in favour.

According to the latest poll, 43 per cent of the public say they would now vote Yes if Irish concerns were addressed, while 39 per cent would vote No and 18 per cent have no opinion.

Ireland's rejection of the treaty in the June 12 vote froze plans to streamline the 27-nation EU's decision-making process as the accord requires the approval of all member states.

Irish foreign minister Micheál, Martin said on Sunday that the Irish government would decide whether to hold a second vote before a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on December 11-12.

Ireland was the only country to hold a popular vote on the treaty. It replaced the EU’s planned “constitution”, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.

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