EU-DIGEST - special edition

Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty does not disqualify it and the EU will seek ways to enforce it, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday commenting Thursday's result of an Irish national referendum on the EU act. According to official partial results announced on Friday Lisbon Treaty opponents won the referendum in 27 of 43 Irish constituencies. Ireland was the only EU member to decide the matter in a national ballot. "The referendum results in Ireland do not disqualify the Treaty completely. We will continue seeking ways to bring it to life. Regardless of the referendum results I think we can be moderately optimistic about the EU finding a way to put it in force," Tusk told reporters in Polish parliament.

Note EU-Digest: "With Britain among the countries continuing to push the ratification process through their parliaments, Ireland is the odd one out. It has to explain how it finds common ground with 26 nations in favour of the Lisbon Treaty. An Irish "no" is being set against a "yes" from the parliaments of another 18 countries so far. The "no" from Ireland does not mean everything is wrecked. Ireland will feel the repercussions, not Europe, because the momentum can't be stopped. As to the strong EURO septics lobby and the Press in Britain let them be warned, the true fight is only beginning now."

For the complete report click on this link