EU meet to focus on revival of treaty
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 18, 2009 00:00
BRUSSELS - European Union leaders are set to discuss a loaded agenda at a two day summit with issues involving the reappointment bid of Commission Chief Barroso, Ireland’s historic no-vote for the ratification of the controversial Lisbon Treaty.
EU leaders hope to save their ambitious reform treaty at a two day summit starting Thursday by cutting a deal with Ireland on sovereignty issues in an effort to persuade reluctant Irish voters who have already rejected the pact once to say "yes" in a new vote.
Also on the agenda are new plans to stem rising joblessness, strategies to prevent a future banking crises, and Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU executive.
Barring any major surprise, Barroso will be given a green light to return as European Commission president but he is unlikely to win a legally binding new mandate. Little more than a week after European parliament elections that more than one in two citizens boycotted, the former Portuguese premier is virtually assured of a second term five-year term.
Despite criticism for poorly handling the financial and economic crisis, Barroso is the only real candidate, reported Agence France-Presse.
French-German stance
Clouding his nomination, is the stance of the EU's historic twin driving motors - France and Germany - which have been tepid in their support and want to first hear his plans for the next five years.
The EU's executive body is responsible for drawing up legislation that impacts daily on the lives of almost half a billion Europeans, as well as enforcing the measures already in place. Its president has significant leverage to influence the institution's legislative priorities.
Publicly, France and Germany say they are reluctant to appoint Barroso outright so as not to upset voters in Ireland who will be asked to vote for a second time on a vast package of reforms they rejected a year ago.
Yet by leaving him hanging, diplomats say, they could be aiming to influence the appointment of the policy area commissioners, particularly those posts they covet, like that of internal markets commissioner in France's case.
Barroso's mandate only expires at the end of October, so detractors argue that there is no rush, yet any delay could damage his ambitions.
If he is chosen now, his selection could be endorsed by the new EU parliament next month on the basis of the existing Nice Treaty, with a simple majority of deputies present in the chamber. But if the process is delayed until after the Lisbon is ratified, he would need support from an absolute majority of the 736-member house, regardless of how many deputies are present.
The future of the new treaty could also go some way to being decided, with Ireland ready to announce a second referendum should it secure guarantees for voters.
Irish voters rejected the treaty in a referendum in June 2008, stalling the ratification of the charter that is meant to streamline how the 27-nation bloc is run and bolster its role on the world stage. Voters had feared the treaty would undermine their national sovereignty, notably laws on taxation, worker rights, health, education standards, and abortion, as well as infringe upon Ireland's cherished neutrality.
To allay those worries, the Irish government has drafted legal texts that declare and guarantee the EU treaty "does not affect" these national policies.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said ahead of the summit that he was "confident and hopeful" EU countries would endorse the guarantees at the summit, clearing the way for his government to call a new vote on the treaty, which diplomats expect in either September or October.
Leaders will also go over plans to ease the economic crisis. On the table are plans to fast-track 19 billion euros ($27 billion) in EU funds to tackle rising jobless rates. The money will be used to back skills training and propping up businesses to prevent layoffs.
Also on the agenda are new plans to stem rising joblessness, strategies to prevent a future banking crises, and Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU executive.
Barring any major surprise, Barroso will be given a green light to return as European Commission president but he is unlikely to win a legally binding new mandate. Little more than a week after European parliament elections that more than one in two citizens boycotted, the former Portuguese premier is virtually assured of a second term five-year term.
Despite criticism for poorly handling the financial and economic crisis, Barroso is the only real candidate, reported Agence France-Presse.
French-German stance
Clouding his nomination, is the stance of the EU's historic twin driving motors - France and Germany - which have been tepid in their support and want to first hear his plans for the next five years.
The EU's executive body is responsible for drawing up legislation that impacts daily on the lives of almost half a billion Europeans, as well as enforcing the measures already in place. Its president has significant leverage to influence the institution's legislative priorities.
Publicly, France and Germany say they are reluctant to appoint Barroso outright so as not to upset voters in Ireland who will be asked to vote for a second time on a vast package of reforms they rejected a year ago.
Yet by leaving him hanging, diplomats say, they could be aiming to influence the appointment of the policy area commissioners, particularly those posts they covet, like that of internal markets commissioner in France's case.
Barroso's mandate only expires at the end of October, so detractors argue that there is no rush, yet any delay could damage his ambitions.
If he is chosen now, his selection could be endorsed by the new EU parliament next month on the basis of the existing Nice Treaty, with a simple majority of deputies present in the chamber. But if the process is delayed until after the Lisbon is ratified, he would need support from an absolute majority of the 736-member house, regardless of how many deputies are present.
The future of the new treaty could also go some way to being decided, with Ireland ready to announce a second referendum should it secure guarantees for voters.
Irish voters rejected the treaty in a referendum in June 2008, stalling the ratification of the charter that is meant to streamline how the 27-nation bloc is run and bolster its role on the world stage. Voters had feared the treaty would undermine their national sovereignty, notably laws on taxation, worker rights, health, education standards, and abortion, as well as infringe upon Ireland's cherished neutrality.
To allay those worries, the Irish government has drafted legal texts that declare and guarantee the EU treaty "does not affect" these national policies.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said ahead of the summit that he was "confident and hopeful" EU countries would endorse the guarantees at the summit, clearing the way for his government to call a new vote on the treaty, which diplomats expect in either September or October.
Leaders will also go over plans to ease the economic crisis. On the table are plans to fast-track 19 billion euros ($27 billion) in EU funds to tackle rising jobless rates. The money will be used to back skills training and propping up businesses to prevent layoffs.