Ierland speelt het hard bij verkrijgen toezeggingen (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has written a letter to his British counterpart Gordon Brown asking him for support in making Ireland's guarantees on the Lisbon Treaty as watertight as possible, saying he will otherwise not win a second referendum.
The letter, sent a day ahead of a two-day meeting of all EU leaders in Brussels, where they will deal with making the Lisbon Treaty more attractive to Irish voters, says the precise legal form the guarantees will take is "crucial."
Ireland is trying to persuade its 26 fellow member states to accept that the guarantees – in the areas of neutrality, tax and ethical issues – will take the form of a protocol that will be attached to an EU treaty, enshrining them in EU law.
Britain, supported by the Netherlands, has baulked at this however. London argues that if the guarantees are tacked onto a future treaty – such as a new member state's accession treaty – debate on the Lisbon Treaty risks being re-opened when it goes through parliament to be ratified.
The opposition Conservatives have long called for a referendum on Lisbon, which they say is an integration step too far.
But Mr Cowen's letter lays down how important the protocol is for Ireland and illustrates how much politically is at stake for him personally, with his party having being severely punished in the recent EU elections.
"I need to be able to come out of our meeting and state, without fear of contradiction, that the legal guarantees contained in the decision will, in time, acquire full treaty status by way of a protocol."
The Irish leader says he recognises that such a protocol cannot be adopted before the Lisbon Treaty comes into force but says he needs "clear and unequivocal commitment that, at a future point after the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, the legal guarantees contained in the decision will be attached to the EU treaties by way of a protocol."
Prior to the summit, EU diplomats had indicated that a possible to solution to the Irish problem would be for EU leaders to make a legal decision, which would be recognised under international law.
The No camp in Ireland – already preparing itself for the second referendum on the treaty set to take place at the end of September or beginning of October – has started making noises that this is insufficient.
"The media debate in Ireland is already focussed on the form of the legal guarantees," points out Mr Cowen.
He suggests putting the guarantees into the existing Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The letter also makes clear that Mr Cowen believes he has no room for manoeuvre.
"I want to emphasise sincerely that this is necessary if I am to call, and win, a second referendum."