Policy Focus

Lisbon ratification must continue, says EU parliament president

European parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering has said he still hopes to see the Lisbon treaty enter into force before the June 2009 European parliamentary elections.

Addressing MEPs at the start of the Strasbourg plenary session on Monday, Pöttering said that the parliament would do everything it could to help assist EU leaders in overcoming the constitutional impasse.

"The referendum result in Ireland confronts the EU with one of the most difficult challenges in its history," said Pöttering.

"This treaty brings the EU closer to its citizens. We must make it abundantly clear that the adoption of the reform treaty is an absolute necessity [and] without the reforms which are made possible by the Lisbon treaty, the accession of further countries to the EU is hardly conceivable."

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday appealed for calm as media speculation over what will happen next intensifies.

Press reports on Tuesday hinted that the Irish government could be offered extra guarantees of its sovereignty and protocols on tax, military policy and family law.

However, the majority of EU leaders are expected to hold back from airing their views until Irish prime minister Brian Cowen presents his case at the summit meeting on Thursday

Pöttering added to the stream of calls directed at EU leaders to "take all appropriate steps to make the reform treaty a reality".

He said, "The ratification process must continue without reservation. We call upon the Irish government, for its part, to submit proposals as to how we can jointly progress beyond this difficult phase in European politics."

And the German deputy added that the parliament would "devote all its energies and display maximum commitment to overcoming these challenges".

"We expect the same of the European commission and of the governments of all EU member states. We equally expect the European parliament to be comprehensively involved in the work concerned," he said.

"It remains our goal to see the Lisbon treaty enter into force before the elections of June 2009 to the European parliament."