EU parliament chief urges 'patience' over Lisbon treaty

Parliament’s president Hans-Gert Pöttering has called for Ireland to be given the time it needs to propose a solution to the impasse created by the rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

His comments have sparked a fresh debate in Ireland, particularly as they come in the wake of French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Dublin on Monday.

Pöttering, writing in the Irish Daily Star newspaper, says the result was a “big personal disappointment” to him, not least as he had visited Ireland twice in recent months in an effort to drum up support for the treaty.

In the article, he defends the right to hold referendums on the issue, saying, “The choice of ratification method is an entirely national matter, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of each member state.

“Ireland chose to hold a referendum, not because it is a better or worse method of ratifying a European treaty than parliamentary debate and vote, but because the Irish government's legal advice was that a referendum was constitutionally required.

“This is an important fact that needs to be understood.”

He goes on, “There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Irish people are committed Europeans that value their EU membership and have always wanted to play a constructive role at the heart of the community. It would be wrong to portray the Irish as Eurosceptic.”

Turning to what happens next with the treaty, the MEP, whose term in office ends next summer, says, “The Irish government must be given the time and space to consult their own people to see what solutions they can propose which will allow the EU to move forward with all of its members together.

“Meanwhile, 23 out of 27 member states have now ratified the treaty and that is their right too.

“They have a legitimate interest to see what Ireland comes up with - as do the presidents who represent the EU institutions, the council, commission and parliament.

“Of course, the right to express an opinion, a view, even a hope, does not mean the right to tell the Irish government or the Irish people what to do.”

“In the end, all of those who - like myself - believe that the treaty will bring huge benefits to Ireland, have to be patient and wait for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to present us with his analysis at the European summit in Brussels on 15 October."
Sarkozy was reportedly met with cries of protest when he arrived for a meeting with the Irish taoiseach on Monday, after newspapers last week claimed he had told a meeting of his own party in France that the Irish should vote again on the treaty.

However, at a press conference in Dublin on Monday, he denied having made the statements.

An editorial in the Irish Daily Star described Pöttering as the “personification of reasonableness and understanding” in arguing that Ireland should make up its own mind over the document.

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