WORLD> Europe
Ireland to seek solution to ratifying EU treaty
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-29 14:49

STOCKHOLM -- Visiting Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said here Friday that Ireland could find out a solution to ratifying EU's Lisbon Treaty before a EU key meeting in December.

"I cannot say whether this will mean a second referendum on the treaty, which is intended to streamline decision-making in the 27-nation bloc," said Cowen after a lunch with his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The Lisbon Treaty was rejected by the Irish voters in June this year. It cannot enter into force until all member states have ratified it.

Cowen said that he would continue to discuss with colleagues in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, and he hoped that it would be able to outline the elements of a solution.

"We must work more intensively now and will be doing so over the coming days, to see in what way we can bring the solution about," he told Swedish public broadcaster SR, adding that some other elements such as institutional arrangements, social and ethical issues, security and tax issues might also be taken into consideration.

An Irish parliamentary committee said Thursday that Ireland could legally hold a second referendum on the treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty is designed to streamline the workings of the European Union with the amendments to the Treaty on European Union (EU) and Treaty on the Functioning of EU, with an aim to enhance the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the union and to improve the coherence of its action.