EU Begins Secret Drive to Force Ireland to Vote Again on Rejected Lisbon Treaty

A secret European Union plan to force Ireland to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty has been uncovered. French officials have penned an explosive document entitled ‘Solution to the Irish Problem’, in which they say the EU should push Ireland into re-running its referendum next year, opening the way for the treaty to come into force next year.

In return, Europe would offer Dublin a few promises, in a bid to ensure its people vote in favour of the treaty. Critics say it is almost identical to the EU Constitution, rejected by the French and the Dutch in 2005.

Labour promised British voters a referendum on the constitution - but then reneged on their promise when it was re-fashioned as a treaty.

Ireland’s support is vital because the Lisbon Treaty cannot come into force across the EU until all 27 countries have ratified it. Ireland was the only country which gave its voters a referendum.

The leaked document predicts that Ireland will cave in at a meeting of Europe’s leaders next month, and agree to hold a second referendum next Autumn.

In return, the EU will guarantee that Ireland will not lose its own EU commissioner, and will make ‘declarations’ that Ireland’s neutrality and stance on abortion will not be affected by the treaty.

The ‘no’ campaign claimed during the referendum campaign that Ireland’s outlawing of abortion, unless the mother’s life is in danger, was under threat if the treaty was passed.

The document says there will be ‘a political declaration confirming that the Treaty of Lisbon does not jeopardise Irish neutrality, or the rule of unanimity on tax matters and will not oblige Ireland to modify its position on abortion.’

It adds: ‘The second Irish referendum could take place, on this basis, during Autumn 2009, pushing back the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon until 2010.’

It was written by a senior EU official based in Paris who is a member of a group called Friends of the Lisbon Treaty.

The treaty creates an EU president, a foreign minister and establishes an EU diplomatic service. Britain went ahead with ratification, despite its rejection by Irish voters.