Ireland pleads for time to remedy EU treaty

Most of the other eight countries still to endorse the treaty have vowed to go ahead with ratification, but delays in the Czech Republic and Poland added to a cloud of uncertainty over a pact which backers say is vital to overhaul the bloc.

EU leaders will also try to surmount differences on how to tackle surging food and fuel prices after France led complaints that Brussels' inaction was a factor in the Irish vote, but a French call for a cap on fuel tax was roundly dismissed.

Cowen and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after talks that Ireland should not be pushed into a corner on the treaty and both stonewalled questions about the prospects of persuading the Irish to vote again.

"We also agreed it is necessary for Ireland to have time now to analyse last week's vote and explore options," Cowen said.

"It is far too early yet for anybody to put forward proposals," he added.

Britain gave the treaty a boost by completing parliamentary ratification on Wednesday, winning Prime Minister Gordon Brown praise from President Nicolas Sarkozy on a stopover in Paris.

But no early solution was in sight for salvaging a treaty designed to give the Union stronger leadership, a more efficient decision-making system and a bigger global role.

Options mooted in Brussels include offering assurances to the Irish that the Lisbon Treaty will not undermine their cherished neutrality, make abortions easier or raise taxes -- and then asking them to vote again.

BINDING ASSURANCES
An official for Sinn Fein, at the heart of the "No" camp, told Reuters she could back a new treaty if binding assurances were given on neutrality, workers' rights and public services.,

"In the event that the governments come back with a new treaty that addresses the issues of concern ... I will personally argue for us to support that treaty," said Mary Lou McDonald, an EU lawmaker for the nationalist party.

"What we will not do is accept a reheated version of Lisbon ... Lisbon is over. The treaty is over."

Barroso warned that adapting the treaty would be "extremely difficult" and said the EU executive backed Cowen's appeal for more time. He expected more talks at an October summit, by which time France will hold the rotating presidency of the bloc.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament all EU states must ratify the text for it to take effect and ruled out a "two-speed Europe" after calls from European federalists such as Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.

But the way ahead is uncertain with the Czech Republic having stalled the process pending a constitutional court ruling not due before October, and Poland's Eurosceptical president holding up signing the bill approved by parliament.

A Czech diplomat said Prague would resist any summit statement calling for ratification to continue.

The main Polish conservative opposition party said the Irish "No" vote could mean the plan will go the same way as the defunct EU constitution it was due to replace, killed off by French and Dutch "No" votes in 2005.

The Irish setback has given more impetus to scheduled talks by EU leaders about surges to fuel and food prices that have hit the pockets of their half a billion citizens.

Higher inflation will curb household spending power, reducing demand and so economic growth. It is also likely to trigger an interest rate rise, which would make corporate investment more expensive and further knock the economy.

A senior French official said Sarkozy would ask EU peers for the right to cap value-added tax on petrol and use the proceeds from VAT on higher oil prices to help fishermen, farmers and truckers hit by high fuel bills.

EU finance ministers this month unanimously reaffirmed their opposition to tax measures that prevent consumers and businesses adjusting to long-term dear energy, and the Sarkozy proposal met wide resistance.

Photo: AFP