In Your Face

In Your Face
Thought provoking opinions on topical issues.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The True Colours of The EU

The EU showed its true colours this weekend when faced with the clear rejection by Ireland of the Lisbon Treaty.

Ireland voted "no" by 53.4% to 46.6%. The referendum result against the Lisbon Treaty has thrown the European Union into turmoil because the treaty, which aims to streamline EU decision making, has to be approved by all states.

Were those running the EU in any shape or form interested in the views of the citizens of the EU, this rejection should cause them some period of reflection about where they are trying to take us.

However, it is very clear that those in charge of the EU have no interest in the views of its citizens.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso insists the Lisbon Treaty is still "alive", and has urged other countries to continue ratifying it. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said:

"The others must continue ratification... so that the Irish incident does not become a crisis."

France's European affairs minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet said that Ireland should hold another vote, so that the people vote in the correct way:

"The ratification process must be completed.

And during this period, the Irish will have time to think and see whether, with a few mediations or a request from their part, they can revote
."

The EU is only a democracy when the voters vote the way that their leaders want.