Brussels, 03/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Irish, with the support of the Council legal staff, are actively pursuing the bilateral consultations begun with all the other member states last week on “legal guarantees” on the Lisbon Treaty. These guarantees are expected to be approved by the European Council of 18-19 June so that Brian Cowen's government can call a fresh referendum for September or October. The guarantees concern the retention of the current system whereby decisions on taxation have to be taken unanimously, respect for Irish neutrality, and the fact that the new treaty will not require Ireland to amend its abortion laws. To ensure that these guarantees have legal force, it is expected that June's European Council will “decide” that they will be in the form of protocols annexed to the treaty as quickly as possible, for example, when Croatia's accession treaty is ratified. Member states will not, however, have to ratify once more the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Ireland is also calling for the European Council to adopt a declaration on social policy and workers' rights highlighting that the EU does not have to operate according to liberal principles alone. The consultations are being carried out in total secrecy, with no written text yet having been put on the table. According to diplomats, an initial draft text on the Irish guarantees could be put to member states at the Coreper meeting of 11 June. (H.B./transl.rt)