The EU considers the Lisbon Treaty following the Irish referendum

Government Communications Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Press release 220/2008
16 June, 2008

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union met in Luxembourg on Monday to prepare the European Council meeting of 19–20 June. The central topic of discussion was the situation pertaining to the Lisbon Treaty following the referendum in Ireland. Finland was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors.

The Lisbon Treaty was discussed during the ministers’ working lunch. According to Foreign Minister Stubb, discussion of the issue was positive and constructive.

“This is not a profound crisis. Difficulties have been overcome before”, Stubb said in Luxembourg. He referred to the negative outcomes of earlier referendums, such as referendums on the Maastricht Treaty and the Nice Treaty.

Stubb explained that the EU Member States together are seeking a solution that, among other things, takes into account the result of the Irish referendum, the ratifications thus far and the timetable pressures linked with implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Stubb said that no Member State had proposed any concrete solution at this stage.

“There is no quick solution on the horizon”, he stressed.

Ireland voted on the Lisbon Treaty of the European Union last Thursday. The No vote against the Treaty received 53.4 per cent and the Yes vote in favour of the Treaty received 46.6 per cent of votes cast. The entry into force of the Treaty requires that it is ratified by all Member States. So far, 18 Member States have ratified the Lisbon Treaty. The Finnish Parliament voted in favour of the Lisbon Treaty last week on Wednesday.

The Slovenian Presidency also presented a draft Conclusion of the European Council to the foreign ministers. The summit will take place in Brussels this week on Thursday and Friday. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, Foreign Minister Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Thors. The President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, will participate in the meeting when the issues discussed fall under the scope of the president’s jurisdiction.

Additional information: Helena Tuuri, State Under-Secretary, EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182 or mobile tel. +358 40 553 3494; and Director General Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5032 or mobile tel. +358 40 72 11 705