International Political Dialogue - “Europe’s Irish Earthquake – Will the EU break apart? Implications for the US”

International Political Dialogue - “Europe’s Irish Earthquake – Will the EU break apart? Implications for the US” [printable version]

“Europe’s Irish Earthquake – Will the EU break apart? Implications for the US”
Washington D.C.

The question regarding the outcome of the Irish referendum and how it will affect the EU’s political capabilities does not only occupy the Germans, the French and the British at present. The Irish No also aroused great interest in Washington, America’s capital. Alexander Count Lambsdorff MEP faced questions raised by more than 130 guests at Washington D.C.’s Willard Hotel, focusing on the matter of possible consequences of this No by the Irish for the European Union as well as for the future of transatlantic relations.

At the beginning of his address, Alexander Count Lambsdorff MEP concentrated on the referendum in Ireland. Despite of its outcome, an overwhelming majority of the Irish people have a positive view of the EU. The country had profited from the European Union as almost no other. Particularly under the EU, Ireland’s economy had developed into a shining example.

Why then this rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish? For Lambsdorff the main reasons were communication failures to be attributed to the Irish government. Irish policies had plainly underestimated the relevance of this vote. The campaign in favour of the Lisbon Treaty had been almost invisible and largely technocratic. There had not been any passionate support in favour of the advantages of European integration. Instead, numerous particularist interests came together, leading to the result we know.

Afterwards, Count Lambsdorff MEP took up the matter of the forthcoming development of the European Union, attributing considerable importance to the following twelve months. Important summits of European heads of government have been scheduled for October and December. Next year, the Commission under Manuel Barroso shall resign, and a new one will be appointed. US and German elections will have their effects on the EU. And, in the final analysis, President Sarkozy of France, as the French President of the Council, has a chance of piloting the European boat out of troubled waters and back onto course.

Following Lambsdorff, the central question facing President Sarkozy is how to convince the Irish or eurosceptic sections of the people in general of the value of the European concept. If the French succeed in mobilising some dynamism of its own in this field, the Lisbon Treaty might become reality after another referendum soon.

One of the central issues debated after the speech was how to deal with European member countries undermining European treaties as a result of referendum votes against. Lambsdorff made clear that this matter essentially decided on the future of European integration. In this context, he referred to the concept of a Europe advancing at different speeds. Partly, this was practised already today. Thus, there are countries that joined the Euro zone, whereas others consciously decided against. There were similar differences in the context of the Schengen agreement or the European Social Charter. Following Lambsdorff, it should be possible to provide for different levels of co-operation in future.