04/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Ireland's Prime Minister Brian Cowen is apparently calling for “legally binding guarantees” on various Irish concerns (keeping the Irish commissioner, neutrality, taxation, abortion) in exchange for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in autumn 2009. To date, it has always been a matter of just political declarations intended to reassure the Irish. These legally binding guarantees should take the form of “protocols” to the treaty, according to The Irish Times on 4 December. In order to avoid reopening the Lisbon Treaty already ratified by 25 member states, Dublin is proposing to include these protocols in the next treaty review, for example during the next enlargement. (H.B./transl.jl)