Irlanda: referendo favorável à ratificação do novo Tratado de Estabilidade, Coordenação e Governação Económica na UEM

Por convicção europeísta ou medo de perder o financiamento  externo, desta vez houve "sim" à primeira num referendo europeu na Irlanda (cerca de 60% de votos favoráveis). Em causa estava o novo  Tratado de Estabilidade,  Coordenação e Governação Económica na União Económica e Monetária. Trata-se do único país da UE que, por razões ligadas à sua própria Constituição,  está obrigado a consultar previamente a população antes de ratificar um Tratado europeu.

Ver notícia no Irish Times

Irlanda: referendo sobre tratado europeu a 31 de maio, desta vez sem "euro-tropeção"?

O referendo na Irlanda sobre o novo pacto orçamental europeu decorrerá a 31 de maio, anunciou esta terça-feira o governo.
«Numa reunião esta manhã, o governo marcou a data do referendo» sobre o tratado. «Este realizar-se-á na quinta-feira dia 31 de maio», disse o vice-primeiro-ministro, Eamon Gilmore, no parlamento, citado pela Lusa.
No final de janeiro, os dirigentes da União Europeia, com exceção do Reino Unido e da República Checa, aprovaram um pacto de disciplina orçamental para tentar combater a crise da dívida.
Aceitaram, assim, inscrever na legislação nacional uma «regra de ouro», um limite para o valor do défice, bem como sanções quase automáticas em caso de derrapagem dos défices públicos.
«O governo vai organizar uma vasta campanha de informação para garantir que os eleitores são informados do conteúdo do tratado e facilitar um verdadeiro debate sobre a decisão que o governo deverá tomar em relação ao assunto», explicou o «número dois» do governo.
O anúncio de Dublin, no final de fevereiro, de referendar o pacto orçamental, foi recebido por Bruxelas com preocupação.
Segundo uma sondagem divulgada no domingo, 49 por cento dos irlandeses pronunciar-se-ão a favor do tratado, 33 por cento votarão contra e 18 por cento estão indecisos.


Ver notícia da Agência Financeira

A UE, o FMI e ‘soberania‘ virtual da Irlanda

‘Sim‘ na Irlanda ao Tratado de Lisboa: resultado de acordo com a única ‘escolha‘ aceitável... nos pequenos países

‘Apoio ao Tratado de Lisboa em queda na Irlanda‘ in EU Observer

With just a month to go until Ireland's second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, a poll has shown that 46 percent support a yes vote, down eight points since May.

Published by the Irish Times, the TNS mrbi poll shows a rise of one point in those saying they plan to vote No to 29 percent with the Don't Knows registering at 25 percent, up seven points in comparison to a pre-summer survey.

The newspaper notes that most of the people who have left the Yes side have entered the Don't Know category rather than crossed to the No camp.

The drop in support for the treaty is reminiscent of the trend in the weeks ahead of the first referendum which resulted in a No in June last year. It is set to spur the government to place more focus on a strong and coherent campaign.

However, prime minister Brian Cowen's Fianna Fail party, grappling with the devastating effects of the economic crisis, has reached an historic low in polls, garnering just 17 percent support in another poll by the Irish Times.

The survey indicates that 85 percent are dissatisfied with the government's performance while 11 percent approve it.

Dan Boyle, chairman of the Green Party, the junior governing party, said that it will be a "challenge" for the government to survive until January, with general elections only due in 2012.

For his part, Mr Cowen has met with the main opposition parties to work out how to make the most effective Yes campaign ahead of the 2 October poll.

He has also tried to persuade to voters to rise above their feelings for the government and concentrate on the issue at hand in the referendum.

"I don't believe this is about the future of this government or the future of personalities, it's about the future of the country. This is not politics as usual. It goes beyond any issues of party, organisation or locality. It is about our country's future," said the prime minister on Wednesday (2 September).

Economic crisis

However, Irish citizens have been shocked by the gravity of the economic crisis and the austerity measures proposed by the government to tackle it. In addition, much of the discussion in recent days has concerned the government's controversial plans to set up a 'bad bank', or National Asset Management Agency, to swallow toxic assets but the plan is viewed with scepticism by the public.

The Irish vote is hugely anticipated in Brussels, where there is widespread hope that the Lisbon Treaty will be passed and a backlog of decisions and discussions can then take place in light of the result.

Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland must also complete ratification of the Treaty, which introduces a powerful EU foreign policy chief, a president of the European Council and gives greater powers to the European Parliament.

http://euobserver.com/9/28616?print=1
JPTF 7/09/2009

A democracia na Europa: insistam, insistam até que os irlandeses digam sim...

Just over a year after Ireland's shock rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, Dublin has announced that a second referendum on the charter will take place on 2 October.

The move comes after the Irish government last month secured agreement from other member states on a package of guarantees on interpretation of the treaty in the areas of neutrality, tax sovereignty and social and ethical issues.

These areas had been identified as ones where there was confusion among Irish voters about the implications of the treaty.

Irish prime minister Brian Cowen made the date public in the Irish parliament on Wednesday (8 July.) He said the concerns of the Irish voters had been addressed by the legal guarantees.

"On that basis, I recommended to the government that we return to the people to seek their approval for Ireland to ratify the treaty and that referendum will take place on 2 October."

Ireland was the only country that put the treaty to referendum last year. A vociferous no-campaign suggested the treaty would see the EU set tax rates, legalise abortion and make the Irish army take part in EU peacekeeping operations.

The government was wrong-footed by the anti-treaty camp and the June vote saw 53.4 come out against the treaty, causing shock in Brussels and some grumbling about ungratefulness as the country has been a major beneficiary of EU funds.

Dublin indicated early on that it would put the treaty back to a vote but only after it was seen to be winning concessions first.

As part of the general Lisbon guarantees package, it also secured agreement that the number of commissioners would remain at one per member state even after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, which foresees a reduction in commission size.

The national backdrop has changed dramatically since last year with the country having been severely affected by the global economic downturn. Polls suggest, and analysts have widely predicted, that this will lead to a yes vote in October.

The government is also hoping to make the treaty - not known for being easy reading - more accessible to voters. It has set up a website explaining it and is sending postcards to all households outlining the legal guarantees on the treaty.

In addition, the referendum bill is designed to ease any voter fears that EU decision-making can be taken without national scrutiny by increasing parliamentary oversight.

All other countries have ratified the treaty in their parliaments. But Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland have yet to finish the ratification process which still needs the signatures of the countries' presidents.

http://euobserver.com/9/28429?print=1
JPTF 2009/07/09

Referendo ao Tratado de Lisboa: insistam, insistam até que os irlandeses digam ‘sim‘

A former senior MEP claimed last night that a rerun of the Lisbon Treaty vote was "a done deal" between Ireland and European Union leaders.

Danish veteran Jens Peter Bonde added that the deal means a new vote will contain declarations with lots of "nice words" that wouldn't actually change "one single paragraph" in the Lisbon Treaty text.

Mr Bonde, a noted Eurosceptic and an opponent of the Maastricht and Lisbon treaties, added: "I know that the French president has told European group leaders in the European Parliament, in confidentiality, that there is a deal now with the Irish government and the French presidency on the . . . rerun."

Mr Bonde's claims were rejected by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin, who insisted the Taoiseach was travelling to Brussels today to discuss "elements of a solution".

"No deal has been done," he said. "If a deal is done, it has to be arrived at by the 27 member states at the Council on Thursday and Friday. I can assure you that no deal has been arrived at."

With any future solution heavily reliant on Ireland being able to retain its permanent European Commissioner, Mr Martin said some states still preferred the proposed new system that allowed for a rotation of commissioners.

Conspiracy

But the minister said he was encouraged by President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso's remark that he was "convinced" Irish voters' concerns could be met.

Meanwhile, an alliance of 'No' campaigners yesterday said the Government was "conspiring" behind voters' backs to rerun the treaty on the wider agenda of the economic crisis.

Pledging an "intensified effort" if there is a second referendum, Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party claimed there would be an attempt by the Government to "panic" people into voting 'Yes' to save their jobs and homes.

Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement said the Government was trying to make a link between EU membership, Lisbon and tackling the economic crisis. "The public aren't stupid and I don't believe they're going to buy into this argument," she added.

"There is now an attempt to go behind the backs of the people and to find another way to force this through, whether it be through a referendum or through some other procedure."

Sinn Fein's Aengus O Snodaigh claimed the Government was intent on getting people to "keep voting until you get the correct answer", while Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) claimed a constitutional challenge was possible against the holding of a second referendum.

OBS: O texto transcrito foi publicado pelo jornal irlandês Independent (URL) sob o título 'Deal is already done' on Lisbon rerun, http://www.independent.ie/national-news/deal-is-already-done-on-lisbon-rerun-1570567.html

JPTF 15/12/2008

Em visitas de estado, pode-se apoiar o Tratado de Lisboa mas não ter dúvidas sobre este... in The Economist

The Czech president, whose country takes over the rotating EU presidency in January, has caused quite a stir on an official visit to Ireland. Vaclav Klaus, a critic of the Lisbon treaty that Irish voters rejected in June, was rebuked by the Irish foreign minister for "inappropriate intervention" after he criticised the treaty at a press conference organised by Libertas, a group actively involved in the "no" campaign. The Irish Times reports that Mr Klaus, who opposes greater EU integration, responded by calling the minister "a hypocrite".

For a treaty that has been declared dead multiple times already, Lisbon certainly seems to be kicking up an ongoing fuss. For opponents who keep talking about it, the real point seems to be the desire to make the EU more democratic and open.

Accusations and counter-accusations have been flying around Dublin. The foreign minister, Micheal Martin, is just one of several Irish politicians to blast Mr Klaus for inappropriate behaviour during his state visit. There are also charges that the government had excluded Irish journalists from a press briefing given by Mr Klaus (a spokesman blamed the Czechs).

At least some guests attending a dinner last night in honour of Mr Klaus said they were there to show annoyance at the Irish government's attempts to suppress his views. The dinner, hosted by the Libertas founder Declan Ganley, a rich and controversial businessman, drew a crowd of about 100, including what were described as "leading opponents of EU integration, anti-abortion campaigners and prominent figures in the Irish news media." They included Jens-Peter Bonde, a former Danish MEP; Anthony Coughlan of the National Platform; Hans-Peter Martin, an Austrian MEP; and Philippe de Villiers, a French MEP and former presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, talk of Libertas running candidates in next year's European parliamentary elections (reported earlier on this blog) were further fueled by a report that members of France's Mouvement pour la France, a eurosceptic party, have said they are prepared to represent Libertas. Mr de Villiers, the MPF leader, said he is among those willing to run "to enable this large pan-European movement to be present in France."

While the controversial Mr Klaus does not speak for the entire Czech government (indeed has been widely criticised in Prague over the visit to Dublin), his country is one of the few that has not accepted the Lisbon treaty. There is said to be growing concern at home over whether this will undermine its presidency of the EU.

Was it inappropriate for the Czech president to express his personal views on the Lisbon treaty during a state visit, especially given his country's upcoming leadership stint? And how might a series of Libertas candidates, if successful, change the face of European politics?

http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/11/dicey_diplomacy_in_dublin.cfm

JPTF 2008/11/14

Na ‘democracia‘ europeia só se pode votar sim: ‘UE pressiona a Irlanda para fazer novo referendo em 2009‘ in Open Europe

European Union officials, Euro-MPs and high-level diplomatic contacts are stepping up the pressure on an increasingly isolated Ireland to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Brian Cowen, Ireland's Prime Minister, must explain to a summit of Europe's leaders next Wednesday how he is planning to resuscitate the EU Treaty, which was rejected by Irish voters in June.

While the final decision will be taken in December, Mr Cowen will hear demands from France and Germany that a second referendum take place as early as March 2009, before European elections.

Brussels diplomats have warned Ireland that it is isolated after angering other EU countries, such as Britain, by taking controversial financial crisis measures that benefited Irish banks while "dumping on others".

"The economy might be going into freefall and the Irish really did not help things. Sympathy for their difficulties is running out," said a diplomat.

According to informal briefing notes circulating in Brussels, EU officials are already in the advanced planning stages for a second vote to be held in Ireland in either Spring or Autumn next year.

One document, seen by The Daily Telegraph, cites Irish sources predicting that Ireland will be offered an "opt-out" on EU defence and security cooperation alongside plans to ratify parts of the Treaty in the country's parliament.

A second vote would then be held on "sensitive" aspects of the EU Treaty with "diverse declarations" presented as major concessions to Irish concerns.

Another text even suggests the slogan "if you don't know, learn!" as the basis for a propaganda blitz targeting, what EU officials regard as, a "lack of understanding" among Irish voters.

"We need to change minds by dramatising how serious the consequences of another No will be for Ireland," said one official.

Irish sources have said the campaign will be posed as "put up or shut up" with voters being given the stark choice between the Treaty and membership of the EU.

Margot Wallstrom, European Commission Vice-President responsible for "communicating" the EU, is planning to set up a "rebuttal function" to tackle "misinformation" from No campaigners.

"We cannot treat the Irish 'no' as merely a national issue or only a Treaty ratification problem," she wrote in an internal memorandum.

"The difficulties encountered in explaining to citizens the rationale of the Lisbon Treaty and in clarifying that the EU needs to be equipped for today's and tomorrow's challenges are difficulties which we encounter across the Union."

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/article.aspx?newsid=2210

JPTF 2008/10/13

A Irlanda que sabe dizer ‘Não‘ ao Tratado de Lisboa e às pressões da União Europeia

O referendo irlandês ao Tratado de Lisboa e a realpolitik da UE

Na Irlanda - o único país onde, por razões constitucionais, vai ser feito um referendo ao Tratado de Lisboa -, a União Europeia não está a querer deixar o assunto só nas mãos do povo. A democracia europeia tem destas coisas: os assuntos verdadeiramente importantes não são para a população se preocupar e, muito menos, decidir. Segundo relata o jornal britânico Telegraph, na sua edição on-line de 19 de Abril, existirá uma espécie "acordo secreto", entre a Comissão Europeia e o governo irlandês para convencer os eleitores renitentes a votarem "sim". Este baseia-se, entre outras coisas, em evitar deliberadamente as más notícias para o eleitorado, as quais poderiam vir dos desenvolvimentos em curso ligados várias políticas europeias, como, por exemplo, a iniciativa francesa de harmonização da fiscalidade das empresas (esta, na Irlanda, por ser muito baixa, tem desviado investimento de outros Estados-membros). Desta forma, cria-se a ilusão de uma Europa que só tem aspectos positivos, o que é naturalmente propício ao "sim". Recorda-se que o "sim" é o único sentido voto aceitável ao dispor de qualquer bom cidadão nos referendos europeus. Isto, claro, para além da abstenção, que preocupa sempre muito os políticos nacionais e europeus na retórica. Todavia, quando os eleitores afluem às urnas em massa, e até procuram conhecer o conteúdo do Tratado, como nos referendos francês e holandês de 2005 sobre a Constituição Europeia, mas depois votam "não" - eventualmente por já estarem mais esclarecidos sobre o que efectivamente está em jogo -, aí seria melhor que tivessem ficado em casa. Mas o mais curioso da notícia do Telegraph é um "memo" que o Presidente do Comité para os Assuntos Constitucionais do Parlamento Europeu, o alemão Jo Leinen, terá dirigido ao Primeiro-Ministro irlandês. Assunto do "memo": o governo deve "evitar, a todo o custo, a discussão dos aspectos políticos sensíveis do Tratado, até que este esteja em vigor ". Nicolau Maquiavel (e Otto von Bismarck) não teriam dado melhores "conselhos ao príncipe". A grande diferença é que, no passado, o cinismo da realpolitik era assumido mais abertamente pelos decisores políticos.
JPTF 2008/04/21