18/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - The president of the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee, Jo Leinen (PES, Germany), has criticised the ideas expressed on Wednesday by the prime minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, who claimed that the Lisbon Treaty could not enter into force before 2010 (EUROPE 9742). Mr Leinen affirmed that “the Lisbon Treaty has to be in force for the European elections in June 2009. All further delay carries new risks and doom-mongering will only lead us to a dead end. Thus, the Irish government needs to undertake everything possible to hold a second referendum in spring next year”. Mr Leinen explained that given the fact that the main causes of the Irish “no” vote are now known (mainly the lack of information for citizens on the contents and real significance of the treaty - EUROPE 9738), there is no reason to postpone the new referendum and stated: “I don't see why a referendum in autumn 2009 should be won any easier than in spring”. (H.B./transl.rh)