Tag Archives: referendum
Ireland voted YES: But what's next?
Finally, a YES for the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland. At least the second attempt was successful. So , what’s next? Now it is up to the Polish and Czech presidents to sign the treaty as well. Lech Kaczinski, the Polish president, promised to sign the text after the Irish voted ”yes’. So this leaves an [...]
Posted in Europe, European Debate, European Union Also tagged 2009, EU, EU Reform, Institutional reform, integration, Ireland, lisbon treaty, Reform Treaty 6 Comments
The Improved Spoofer’s Guide to the Lisbon Treaty
The Irish referendum is on the horizon. So it is time to explain the Lisbon Treaty (again!). Here it is: The second edition (“Lisbon ’09 – The Rematch version”) of the most entertaining Lisbon treaty paper ever published and of course it is bigger, better, faster and with Omega 3: So, enjoy Jason O’Mahony’s New [...]
Libertas: The one-man show comes to Europe
So, just in time for next years European Parliament elections Declan Ganley launched his Libertas party, or “pan-European movement” as he would label it. However, so far the ‘party’ neither has programme nor candidates which I think is major shortcoming when launching a party. You would at least expect some basic policy goals in order [...]
Posted in European Debate, European Union Also tagged anti-EU, Declan Ganley, EP elections 2009, euroscepticism, libertas, lisbon treaty, populism 6 Comments
Ireland: Post Referendum Research Findings
The long awaited report on the underlying causes of the No vote on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland has been published. You can read the complete report here: “Post Lisbon Treaty Referendum Research Findings (.pdf)” Here some key findings: The main reason for abstaining in this referendum was lack of understanding/knowledge (46%), which is far [...]
Posted in European Debate, European Union Also tagged EU, Ireland, lisbon treaty, No, public opinion, research 3 Comments
Kosmolinks #17
The referendum: populism vs democracy The idea of the referendum as an instrument of the people’s will rests on pre-democratic foundations, says George Schöpflin. I certainly agree! A better way with referendums Interesting idea: Is it possible to introduce a more deliberative approach when holding a referendum? Does “deliberative polling” make citizens more knowledgeable? Instead [...]
Posted in Kosmolinks Also tagged blogging, EU, EU Reform, Europe, European Union, Germany, Ireland, lisbon treaty, No, politics, SPD, WIA Leave a comment
Cameron vs. Brown
Interesting how Gordon Brown defends the EU and the Lisbon Treaty: Conviction or tactics? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uVFkzzLkL0]
Posted in European Debate Also tagged David Cameron, EU, EU Reform, European Union, Gordon Brown, Ireland, lisbon treaty, politics, UK Leave a comment
Kosmolinks #16
The Irish ‘no’ and the EU’s “nuclear”option Daniel Gros (CEPS) argues for “a radical solution – the other EU members should propose to leave the old EU and create a new one with the Lisbon Treaty as its founding document.” So much for bringing Europe closer to the people Everyone is right and wrong at [...]
Posted in Kosmolinks Also tagged EU, EU Reform, Europe, European Union, Ireland, lisbon treaty, No, plan b, plan c Leave a comment
The Irish 'No' – Problems and Dilemmas
The problems with the Irish referendum: In any representative democracy a document with 271 pages (479 pages in the consolidated version!) of legal text should never be put to a referendum. The method of EU treaty ratification should be the same in every member state. A very weak YES campaign and a quite strong NO [...]
Posted in European Debate, European Union Also tagged constitutional treaty, EU, EU politics, EU Reform, Europe, European Union, Ireland, lisbon treaty, No, politics 4 Comments
Kosmolinks #15
Public perceptions of the EU as a system of governance Good overview on the state of research… Is Europe doing any good in Chad? | Certain ideas of Europe Apparently there is not much to do in Chad. Sudan is far away, the local dictator feels more secure, and anyway, the EU mission has the [...]
Posted in Kosmolinks Also tagged Balkans, Belgium, CFSP, Chad, council, EU, European Union, french, georgia, Ireland, lisbon treaty, macedonia, presidency, Russia Leave a comment
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