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03/09/2009
Lisbon Treaty Guide Launched By EC
The European Commission has today launched a guide to the Lisbon Treaty to be distributed throughout the State ahead of next month's referendum.
Secretary-General of the European Commission, Catherine Day, presented the document 'Your guide to the Lisbon Treaty' at a launch in Dublin today.
Ms Day, who is the most senior Irishwoman official of the European Commission, said: "We have produced this simple guide in response to the clear demand for information not just in Ireland but in all the Member States.
"It's available in every EU language including Irish. I very much hope that this easy guide to the Treaty will help Irish people make up their minds on the important question they must answer on the 2nd of October".
Up to 70,000 copies of the guide will be distributed to public libraries, various public offices and the political parties in the coming days.
It is also available on the Representation's website www.euireland.ie under Lisbon downloads.
The 18 page document is a quick guide to the issues covered by the treaty, and concludes: "After decades of war that cost millions of lives, the foundation of the EU marked the beginning of a new era where European countries solve their problems by talking, not fighting.
"Today, members of the EU enjoy a wealth of benefits. The existing rules, however, were designed for a much smaller EU, and an EU that did not have to face global challenges such as climate change, a global recession or international cross-border crime.
"This is the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty."
The launch of the docment comes just as Sinn Fein, the only major Irish party officially opposing the treaty, announced the beginning of their 'No' campaign.
European Affairs spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said the government is "ignoring the will of the people" and engaging in "the politics of fear".
"As with their mishandling of the economy Brian Cowen's government are refusing to listen to the very real concerns of the electorate on Lisbon," he said.
The second vote on whether Ireland should implement the Lisbon Treaty takes place on Friday 2 October.
(DW/BMcC)
Secretary-General of the European Commission, Catherine Day, presented the document 'Your guide to the Lisbon Treaty' at a launch in Dublin today.
Ms Day, who is the most senior Irishwoman official of the European Commission, said: "We have produced this simple guide in response to the clear demand for information not just in Ireland but in all the Member States.
"It's available in every EU language including Irish. I very much hope that this easy guide to the Treaty will help Irish people make up their minds on the important question they must answer on the 2nd of October".
Up to 70,000 copies of the guide will be distributed to public libraries, various public offices and the political parties in the coming days.
It is also available on the Representation's website www.euireland.ie under Lisbon downloads.
The 18 page document is a quick guide to the issues covered by the treaty, and concludes: "After decades of war that cost millions of lives, the foundation of the EU marked the beginning of a new era where European countries solve their problems by talking, not fighting.
"Today, members of the EU enjoy a wealth of benefits. The existing rules, however, were designed for a much smaller EU, and an EU that did not have to face global challenges such as climate change, a global recession or international cross-border crime.
"This is the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty."
The launch of the docment comes just as Sinn Fein, the only major Irish party officially opposing the treaty, announced the beginning of their 'No' campaign.
European Affairs spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said the government is "ignoring the will of the people" and engaging in "the politics of fear".
"As with their mishandling of the economy Brian Cowen's government are refusing to listen to the very real concerns of the electorate on Lisbon," he said.
The second vote on whether Ireland should implement the Lisbon Treaty takes place on Friday 2 October.
(DW/BMcC)
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