Irish No vote requires rethink

4.41.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Jun 2008

Expressing her regret that Irish voters have apparently by a majority voted 'no' in their referendum on the Lisbon treaty, London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has called for a much intensified effort to explain the EU and how it must and can adapt to deal with important challenges that affect people's lives.

Sarah Ludford said:

"It is a shame that untrue scare-mongering about pan-European armies and threats to national abortion laws have led around 1 million Irish voters to scupper the Treaty of Lisbon, which would usher in a more effective, democratic and capable EU to benefit Europe's 500 million citizens."

"Of course it the treaty is a thick tome and hardly bedtime reading. But a rules-based organisation cannot operate on one sheet of A4, and careful and detailed drafting is needed not least to avoid an overreach in EU competences. The reality is that if the EU is to punch its weight in the world and combat climate change, crime, conflict and catastrophe, it needs to be streamlined and reformed which this treaty does."

"EU leaders now have to go back to the drawing board. While respecting the Irish vote, ways have to be found to move forward and make the EU machinery work better and more transparently. All politicians including me have to redouble our efforts to debate, inform and improve the EU."