Ireland rejects Lisbon Treaty, EU expresses regret _English

LONDON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Irish voters on Friday rejected the Lisbon Treaty on European Union (EU) reform, dealing a heavy blow to the bloc's hopes of putting the treaty into effect from Jan. 1,2009.

Official results show that 53.4 percent voters vetoed the treaty in the referendum, Sky News reported.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he was disappointed with the result but the government "accepts and respects the verdict ofthe Irish people."

The Lisbon Treaty, signed by European leaders last December, is designed to make much-needed institutional reforms in the EU possible.

The treaty must be ratified by all 27 member states before it can take effect. It has so far been ratified by two thirds of them.

Ireland was the only country to hold a public ballot on the treaty and the "No" vote is believed to have plunged Europe into a difficult situation.

Irish voters have rejected Lisbon Treaty on the European Union reform at 862,415 to 752,451 votes as the results were announced in Dublin on Friday afternoon, Sky news reported.

Irish celebrate as voters rejected Lisbon Treaty on the European Union reform on June 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, expressed regret at the outcome of the Irish vote.

The Slovenian presidency "deeply regrets" this outcome, said Jansa, while adding: "We respect the democratic will of the Irish voters."

Cowen is expected to explain the reasons behind his country's rejection of the treaty when the heads of state and government of EU member states meet next week, Jansa said.

"We will discuss the situation and look for ways to move forward."

The Irish "No" vote should not be seen as "voting against the European Union," Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, said in Brussels.

Other EU states "should continue to ratify the treaty despite the Irish result," he said, adding that there should be a collective response to solving the issue of building a strong Europe, he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy also urged other EU nations to continue the ratification process in spite of the Irish rejection.

Early referendum returns in Ireland suggest "No" vote to Lisbon Treaty

A low voter turnout in Ireland is expected on Friday in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which will reshape the future of the European Union.

Counting begins in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, June, 13, 2008 following voting on the Lisbon Referendum.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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LONDON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Early returns in Ireland's referendum on the European Union's (EU) Lisbon Treaty have pointed to a "No" vote, Sky news reported on Friday.

Tallymen, the political party monitor, was quoted by Sky news as saying that five Dublin constituencies indicated a "No" vote, with three evenly divided for and against and one in favor. Full story

EU commissioner says disappointment inevitable at Irish "no" to treaty

BRUSSELS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- There will be "inevitable disappointment" across the European Union at the outcome of a referendum in Ireland, in which the EU Treaty of Lisbon was rejected, said EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy on Friday.

"There will be inevitable disappointment across the EU at the results of this referendum," said McCreevy, who is responsible for the EU Commission's internal market and services. Full story

Poettering regrets at Irish "no" vote on Lisbon Treaty

BRUSSELS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering expressed here Friday regret at the "no" vote in the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, calling for solutions at the European Union Summit next week.

"It is of course a great disappointment for all those who wanted to achieve greater democracy, greater political effectiveness and greater clarity and transparency in decision-making in the European Union that the majority of the Irish could not be convinced of the need for these reforms of the European Union," he said in a statement. Full story

EU regrets Irish rejection of Lisbon Treaty

BELGRADE, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Current President of the European Council, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa expressed his regret on Friday at the rejection outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

"The Slovenian Presidency deeply regrets this outcome," Jansa said, but added "we respect the democratic will of the Irish voters." Full story