French President will argue for a second Lisbon Referendum for Ireland

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that without ratification of the Lisbon Treaty there can be no further enlargement of the European Union.

Sarkozy was speaking on French television as France prepares to began the six month French Presidency of the European Union in July.

Commenting on Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty on 12th June, he said that his first priority was to limit the problem to Ireland and that the Czech Republic should ratify the treaty. He stated that when he visits Ireland in July he would try to find out why Ireland voted no and what could be done to make progress.

When asked if Ireland should have a second referendum, the French President said that he didn’t want to give the impression of forcing Ireland’s hand, but noted that there had been a second vote following the rejection of the Nice Treaty in Ireland.

An umbrella group of anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigners say they will stage a protest in Dublin next month during a visit to Ireland by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The group known as the Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC) represents the left-wing organisations opposed to the Lisbon Treaty including People Before Profit, the Socialist Party and Sinn Féin.

CAEUC is concerned that the French presidency of the EU will press ahead with the ratification of the treaty despite its rejection by Ireland.

The group says that Mr Sarkozy needs to respect the rejection of the now defunct EU constitution in France and the Netherlands, as well as the Irish rejection of the treaty.

Source:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0630/eulisbon.html