Brussels, 17/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The consequences of a “no” at the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, on 12 June this year, would be disastrous for Ireland and for the European Union and “this time I can tell you there is no plan B”, José Manuel Barroso was reported as saying in The Irish Times of 17 April, on the occasion of his visit to Ireland on Thursday and Friday. The president of the European Commission, however, refuses to dwell on such a “negative scenario” as, he told the Irish daily, “I do not want to give the impression that I am putting any kind of pressure on the Irish people”.
The outcome of the referendum is still uncertain, mainly due to the high number of people still of no fixed opinion. According to the results of a poll survey this week, 28% of the Irish affirm they will vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty, 12% say they will vote “no” and no fewer than 60% (!) state they are still undecided.
In Dublin on Thursday, Mr Barroso met Bertie Ahern, who has just stepped down from his post as prime minister, and his successor, the current finance minister, Brian Cowen. He also addressed the National Forum on Europe on Thursday, an independent body responsible for organising debates on the Lisbon Treaty. During his speech, the Commission president explained that the Union needed the new treaty for making the EU work better, giving people a “greater say over what Brussels can and can't do” and giving Europe a “stronger voice” on the international scene. He also placed emphasis on subsidiarity and pointed out that, in future, national parliaments of member countries will have enhanced authority for ensuring that this principle, so dear to the Irish, is respected.
Mr Barroso then took a stance on three specific issues that dominate the referendum campaign:
Taxation and unanimous decision-making. Enthusiastic supporters of taxation competition in Europe, the Irish are against tax harmonisation within the EU. After the European Commission's announcement to propose, in autumn, the setting in place of a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) (EUROPE 9638), the Irish government feels increasingly obliged to repeat that the Lisbon Treaty will in no way change the rule of unanimity for decision-making on tax matters. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern had, moreover, announced on Wednesday that he would ask the Commission president to confirm “without ambiguity” that Ireland will keep its right of veto in this field after enforcement of the new treaty. On Thursday, Mr Barroso reassured the Irish saying, in his address: “The Lisbon Treaty does not change the rules on taxation. They remain subject to unanimity, giving each member state a veto. Nothing can be agreed on taxation issues without Ireland's consent and nothing can be imposed on Ireland”. He even asserted that it was not yet entirely clear whether the Commission would make proposals on CCCTB or not.
Irish neutrality. The Lisbon Treaty will make some changes in the way the EU deals with defence and security issues, stressed Mr Barroso, adding: “but I can categorically state that there is nothing in the new treaty that will affect Ireland's tradition of military neutrality”.
“Irish model”. The Lisbon Treaty and the policies promoted by the European Commission are compatible with maintaining the “Irish model” of development, said Mr Barroso, who took as an example “one specific aspect of the Irish model: agricultural and sustainable development”. “I do not see the CAP as an old policy to be phased out but rather as a successful one that offers great potential for the future, provided it continues to modernise”, the Commission president said. Like Ireland, which is a great supporter of the CAP, “we want to promote strong rural communities and a vibrant rural economy”, he said. The proposals that the Commission will be presenting in May with a view to the CAP “health check” will be along the lines of the agricultural reforms that Ireland has already begun, Mr Barroso said. (H.B.)