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EU Awaits with Bated Breath Key Irish Vote Result
World | June 13, 2008, Friday // 00:00
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Vote counting is under way in Ireland after Thursday's referendum on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
Ireland was the only one of the 27 member states to hold a referendum on the new EU Reform Treaty, as this is required by the country's constitution.
The Lisbon Treaty has already been ratified by 18 EU members, including Bulgaria, but it does need the approval of all 27 states to enter into force.
According to experts cited by BBC, rejection of the plan which streamlines decision making in the now expanded EU could plunge the bloc into crisis.
Turnout is said to have been about 45% and commentators had predicted that a low turn out figure would suggest a rejection.
President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, urged all EU states to back the treaty, which is due to come into force on 1 January 2009, saying the reforms would strengthen the EU to meet global challenges.
In 2001, Irish voters almost wrecked EU plans to expand eastwards when they rejected the Nice treaty. It was only passed in a much-criticised second vote.
Ireland was the only one of the 27 member states to hold a referendum on the new EU Reform Treaty, as this is required by the country's constitution.
The Lisbon Treaty has already been ratified by 18 EU members, including Bulgaria, but it does need the approval of all 27 states to enter into force.
According to experts cited by BBC, rejection of the plan which streamlines decision making in the now expanded EU could plunge the bloc into crisis.
Turnout is said to have been about 45% and commentators had predicted that a low turn out figure would suggest a rejection.
President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, urged all EU states to back the treaty, which is due to come into force on 1 January 2009, saying the reforms would strengthen the EU to meet global challenges.
In 2001, Irish voters almost wrecked EU plans to expand eastwards when they rejected the Nice treaty. It was only passed in a much-criticised second vote.
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