Skip to main content

Home/ European Union/ Group items tagged referendums

Rss Feed Group items tagged

Filter: All | Bookmarks | Topics Simple Middle
1More

18.06.07: Survey: EU public in 5 big EU states wants referendum on new constitution/treaty - 0 views

euobserver.com/24296 constitution publicopinion
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 20 Jun 07 - Cached
  • An opinion survey in five big EU states show most people want referendums on the new EU treaty in opposition to the current trend to agree a document that will be put only to national parliaments for ratification. According to an FT/Harris Poll published on Monday (18 June), 75 percent of Spaniards, 71 percent of Germans, 69 percent of Britons, 68 percent of Italians and 64 percent of French people consider the post-constitution treaty important enough to warrant a referendum
1More

06.02.07: New government of the Netherlands set to delay EU referendum decision - 0 views

euobserver.com/23429 constitution eu-policy_memberstates netherlands
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 11 May 07 - Cached
  • The Netherlands is set to postpone a decision on whether to hold a second referendum on the European constitution until a new version of the text is agreed at EU level. The three Dutch political parties that are in the final stages of forming a new centre-left government on Monday (5 February) broadly endorsed a coalition agreement which leaves the tricky decision of whether to hold a new EU constitution referendum to the country's highest constitutional advisory body, the Council of State.
1More

18.01.2007: Segolene Royal wants new EU constitution referendum - 0 views

euobserver.com/23293 constitution eu-policy_memberstates france germanpresidency
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 11 May 07 - Cached
  • Segolene Royal, the socialist candidate to become France's next president, has said she is in favour of holding a new referendum on a revised EU constitution in 2009, proposing to make the treaty more attractive to the French by attaching a social declaration. "I want the French people to be consulted once again in a referendum in 2009," Ms Royal said after meeting Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday (17 January), according to press reports.
2More

Turkey offers referendum gamble to Europe | EurActiv - 0 views

www.euractiv.com/...ndum-gamble-europe-news-498293 enlargement enlargementpolicy_candidates turkey
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 30 Sep 10 - No Cached
  • Egemen Bağış, Turkey's chief EU negotiator, sought yesterday (29 September) to unblock Ankara's accession bid by calling on European Union countries to call referenda on the country's EU membership. Turkey may also chose to consult its citizens, he said.
  • So-called 'Norway status' (see 'Background') appears to be a formula which Turkey is officially putting on the table, it emerged after a two-hour Q&A session between Bağış and the Brussels press. Bağış, who is a leading politician from Turkey's AKP party, repeatedly referred to Norway, which had completed accession negotiations but twice decided not to join the Union following referenda lost by narrow margins in 1972 and 1994.
2More

29.10.10: 'Small, small, small' EU treaty change to deliver 'quantum leap' - 0 views

euobserver.com/31163 summits summit_october2010 eu-policies currency-policy euro economic-policy eu-policy_memberstates germany constitutional_court
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 29 Oct 10 - No Cached
  • European leaders have given way to German demands for a change to the European treaties, but the procedure for the change and its size has been calculated explicitly to avoid the danger that it could provoke referendums in some EU states.
  • Viritually all EU member states had vehemently opposed any treaty change going into the summit, but in the end they were convinced by Germany's need for the change in order to avoid a legal clash with its Karlsruhe-based Constitutional Court. The leaders agreed to construct a permanent crisis mechanism to fill the void left when the existing but temporary €110 billion bail-out package for Greece and €440 billion fund set up for the eurozone as a whole expire in 2013. According to diplomats, it is currently unclear whether this new mechanism would involve participation of eurozone members alone or the full 27 EU member states, including those who do not use the euro. Germany is worried that any permanent structure could run afoul of treaty rules forbidding EU bail-outs of member states and be struck down by the country's strict Constitutional Court, thus opening the euro once again to an assault by markets as occurred in the spring. Caught between the need for a structural change and their fear of both the activism of Karlsruhe and the growing euroscepticism of citizens, the other leaders signed off on the move only so long as the change envisaged was "small, small, small - the smallest possible ... in order to ensure there is no possibility of referendums," in the words of a Danish diplomat speaking to EUobserver. The method EU leaders chose to achieve the change will be via what is called the "special revision procedure," introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, under which the treaty can be amended by the European Council alone, so long as there is unanimity and the changes do not extend the competences of the European Union.
1More

21.10.08: Irish MEP: Hold second Lisbon vote, with opt-outs - 0 views

www.euractiv.com/...article-176570 constitution lisbon-treaty eu-policy_memberstates ireland referenda options_after_Irish_No
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 23 Oct 08 - Cached
  • rish centre-right MEP Colm Burke (EPP) recently became the first Irish politician to propose a specific 'roadmap' for holding a second Lisbon referendum in Ireland. Discussing this plan and other issues in an interview with EurActiv, Burke called for a multi-question referendum to be held in October 2009, allowing Irish citizens to vote on possible opt-outs from the Lisbon Treaty while also constituting a second ballot on the text itself.
3More

12.12.08: Second Irish referendum linked to Croatian EU accession - 0 views

euobserver.com/27295 constitution lisbon-treaty ratification ireland summits enlargementpolicy_eu croatia
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 13 Dec 08 - Cached
  • Legal guarantees promised to Ireland and paving the way for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in the country are to be written into a protocol together with Croatia's accession treaty to the EU in 2010 or 2011, current EU President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday (12 December).
  • EU leaders in Brussels this week (11-12 December) agreed to a series of concessions to allow Dublin to make possible a second vote on the bloc's Lisbon Treaty some time in the course of next year.
  • In order to make these promises legally binding, they will be written into a protocol in Croatia's accession treaty - that has to be ratified by all EU countries to enter into force. "To give a legal value to the engagements made to Ireland by the 26 other member states, we have committed that at the time of the next EU enlargement – whether that will be in 2010 or in 2011, when probably Croatia will join us ... we will use that to add a protocol [on Ireland] to Croatia's accession treaty," Mr Sarkozy told journalists after the EU summit.
2More

18.11.08: Dublin in talks with EU capitals to retain commissioner - 0 views

euobserver.com/27130 constitution lisbon-treaty eu-policy_memberstates ireland options_after_Irish_No ratification
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 18 Nov 08 - Cached
  • The Irish foreign minister, Micheal Martin has said that Dublin is in talks with other European capitals to see if the retention of a commissioner for each member state is viable - a key concern of No voters in the June referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
  • The question of Ireland's traditional neutrality, which No campaigners argued was under threat from a growing militarisation of the European Union was one of the main reasons people voted No, according to a post-referendum commission poll. Taxation figured equally prominently according to the Eurobarometer survey, as did the loss of a commissioner. Abortion however did not figure prominently amongst people's concerns, being the reason for casting a ballot against the Lisbon Treaty for just two percent of No voters. The loss of a commissioner Mr Martin highlighted as one of the more significant points of discussion with other member states.
2More

16.02.09:_ Irish poll shows swing in favour of Lisbon treaty - 0 views

euobserver.com/27613 constitution lisbon-treaty ratification referenda eu-policy_memberstates Ireland options_after_Irish_No
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 16 Feb 09 - Cached
  • A new poll has shown a swing in favour of the Lisbon treaty in Ireland as the main political parties argue about when would be the best time to hold a second referendum on the document. According to a survey carried out by the Irish Times newspaper, 51 percent are in favour of the treaty while 33 percent would vote against it.
  • Analysis of the results suggests it is farmers and middle-class voters who have shifted their opinion towards a Yes since the referendum in June last year. Meanwhile, the least well off tend to be opposed to the treaty. The swing in Lisbon's favour comes amid the country's convulsions in the economic crisis, which has caused massive job losses.
3More

11.02.09: German judges express scepticism about EU treaty - 0 views

euobserver.com/27586 constitution lisbon-treaty ratification eu-policy_memberstates germany constitutional_court
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 11 Feb 09 - Cached
  • Several of the eight judges in charge of examining whether the EU's Lisbon Treaty is compatible with the German constitution have expressed scepticism about the constitutional effects of further EU integration. According to reports in the German media, the debate during the crucial two-day hearing starting on Tuesday (10 Februrary) on the treaty centred on criminal law and the extent to which it should be the preserve of member states rather than the EU.
  • In all, four of the eight judges questioned the Lisbon Treaty.
  • On Wednesday, the court is to examine article 146 of Germany's constitution, which says that a referendum may be called if the constitutional order in the country is changed to the detriment of Germany's current constitution – the Grundgesetz or Basic Law. The court could therefore ask for a referendum, concludes the Suedeutsche Zeitung.
2More

21.01.09: Croatia's timetable threatened by border dispute - 0 views

euobserver.com/27450 enlargement enlargementpolicymemberstates slovenia enlargementpolicy_candidates croatia europeanparliament
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 22 Jan 09 - Cached
  • Croatia's on-going border dispute with Slovenia must be solved within the next few weeks or the country is unlikely to conclude EU talks by the end of the year as planned, the MEP in charge of the dossier has warned. In his report on Croatia's EU progress, approved by deputies in the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Wednesday (21 January), Austrian Socialist MEP Hannes Swoboda says that the goal of concluding negotiations in 2009 can be achieved, "provided the government of Croatia steps up its efforts to address some of the more sensitive issues linked with the accession process, including fighting organised crime and corruption." Croatia's premier, Ivo Sanader (l), and EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn (r). (Photo: European Communities, 2008) Print Comment article window.google_render_ad(); But the MEP told this website that although "in the official report we want to give a clear message that this is still possible," in reality this date is becoming increasingly "difficult to reach." "Only if the border issue is solved in the coming three to four weeks, then it is possible. Because otherwise, technically there is not enough time to deal with the issues of the chapters."
  • As of now, Croatia – an EU candidate since 2004 and aiming to become full EU member by 2011 at the latest – has opened 22 chapters of the 35 contained in its accession package, and closed seven. Referendum – an 'unacceptable' threat Recently, Slovenia also raised the threat of a referendum on Croatia's EU membership if the border issue is not solved – a move strongly criticised by the Austrian MEP. The threat is "absolutely counterproductive. Already now with the very negative or relatively negative attitude of the Slovene population – if we can believe opinion polls – I have to see [the idea] very critically," Mr Swoboda said.
3More

21.01.09: German constitutional court to examine Lisbon treaty - 0 views

euobserver.com/27452 constitution eu-policy_memberstates germany constitutional_court lisbon-treaty ratification
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 21 Jan 09 - Cached
  • Germany's constitutional court is preparing for an unusually long hearing on the EU's Lisbon treaty in a process that will help determine the fate of the document across the European Union. Over two days next month (10-11 February) the court's judges will discuss whether the treaty breaches Germany's constitution.
  • The court is considering a complaint brought by conservative MP Peter Gauweiler, who has argued that the treaty infringes on the rights given to German citizens in their country's constitution by allowing a foreign court - the European Court of Justice - to decide upon such issues. He also argues that the treaty undermines the power of Germany's own parliament, the Bundestag.
  • The Czech Republic, Poland and Ireland also have yet to complete ratification. The Czech parliament is due to debate the charter at the beginning of February. If it passes parliament, it then faces another hurdle in the shape of the country's eurosceptic president, Vaclav Klaus, who must also give his approval. Ireland is having another go at ratifying the treaty after it was rejected by Irish citizens last June. The second referendum will take place in the autumn. The result will directly influence Poland's treaty situation. Polish President Lech Kaczynski has said he will only give the nod to the treaty if Ireland's referendum produces a Yes vote.
3More

21.01.09: Polish president won't sign Lisbon before Irish referendum - 0 views

euobserver.com/27446 constitution lisbon-treaty referenda ratification eu-policy_memberstates poland czechia ireland germany
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 21 Jan 09 - Cached
  • Poland will not complete the final step of ratification for the EU's Lisbon treaty until after Ireland has had its second referendum on the document, the Polish president has reiterated. While noting that his country does not intend to be an obstacle to the bloc's ratification of the text, Lech Kaczynski said he would only sign off on the treaty if Irish citizens say Yes in the new vote, expected in autumn.
  • The president's tough stance comes despite the Polish parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday passing a resolution for him to yield. "The parliament requests the president to respect the will of both houses of parliament and to finish the process of ratification as quickly as possible," the resolution - which is to be voted on in plenary on Thursday - says, according to Rzeczpospolita.
  • Besides Ireland and Poland, Germany - which is awaiting a ruling by its highest court on legal challenges to the text - and the Czech Republic have also not yet ratified the EU treaty.
2More

13.05.08: Dublin launches EU treaty "Yes" campaign - 0 views

euobserver.com/26124 constitution eu-policy_memberstates ireland lisbon-treaty referenda
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 13 May 08 - Cached
  • The Irish government has launched its campaign in favour of the EU treaty with the new prime minister, Brian Cowen, calling for a "yes" vote in next month's referendum. "It would be a very backward step to resign from the strategic political positioning we have established in 35 years of (EU) membership," Mr Cowen said on Monday (12 May). "It would have very serious implications.
  • Ireland is the only EU member state to have a referendum on the new treaty and the government is coming under enormous pressure to secure a "yes" vote, with all 27 countries needed to ratify the document for it to come into force. Analysts suggest that much will depend on voter turnout among the 3-million-strong electorate. A low turn-out could result in a "no" vote, they say, while a higher turnout is set to work more in favour of the "yes" camp.
4More

10.03.08: Lisbon-Treaty Ratification in Germany and Ireland - 0 views

euobserver.com/25810 constitution eu-policy_memberstates germany ireland lisbon-treaty ratification referendums
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 10 Mar 08 - Cached
  • Germany's highest court is to decide upon a complaint brought by a German MP against the EU's latest treaty.

    Peter Gauweiler, who hails from the Christian Social Union (CSU) - part of the governing coalition, wants the country's constitutional court to decide on the legality of the Lisbon Treaty, currently undergoing ratification across the 27-member European Union.
  • The German parliament is due to ratify the treaty in May and is likely to approve it, however the final act of ratification requires the country's president, Horst Kohler, to sign off the document. Mr Kohler may decide to wait for the court to reach a decision before putting his stamp under the treaty.
  • The Irish vote Meanwhile, another country in the ratification process that is set to provide for plenty of discussion is Ireland, the only member state to have a referendum.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Within Ireland itself, the population is perceived as being generally pro-European, while the government and the main political parties are in favour of the treaty. But the fight ahead of the vote is already tough. A new group called Libertas is campaigning against the treaty on purely economic grounds, saying the document will make the EU less competitive affecting business-friendly Ireland.
2More

06.05.08: EU urges irish farmers to keep treaty and trade talks separate - 0 views

euobserver.com/26088 constitution eu-policy_memberstates interest-groups ireland lisbon-treaty referenda
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 06 May 08 - Cached
  • EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has urged Irish farmers to refrain from linking next month's vote on the Lisbon Treaty to ongoing world trade talks. "I don't think the Doha talks should get mixed up with the Lisbon Treaty or any referendum on it. Rejecting the treaty would not be in Ireland's interests, it wouldn't be in Europe's interests," said Mr Mandelson on Tuesday (6 May).
  • The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has delivered up the threat of a No vote in next month's referendum to both the commissioner and the Irish government if their interests are not defended in the talks.
1More

26.05.08: Voting gap narrows ahead of Irish referendum - 0 views

euobserver.com/26205 constitution eu-policy_memberstates ireland lisbon-treaty referenda
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 26 May 08 - Cached
  • The gap between the "Yes" and the "No" camps ahead of the EU treaty referendum in Ireland has narrowed, according to the latest poll published on Sunday (25 May). The survey for the Sunday Business Post shows that 41 percent plan to vote in favour of the treaty - a three percent increase on a similar poll two weeks ago. But the same survey showed that the No side has increased its share of the vote by five percent in the same period, with 33 percent saying they plan to reject the pact. A quarter of the electorate remain undecided about how they will vote on 12 June.
2More

08.07.08: Netherlands ratifies Lisbon Treaty - 0 views

www.euractiv.com/...article-174063 constitution eu-policy_memberstates lisbon-treaty netherlands ratification
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 09 Jul 08 - Cached
  • The Netherlands on Tuesday (8 July) became the 21st country to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, and the third to do so following the failed Irish referendum on 12 June.
  • Without surprises, a large majority of the Senate (60 to 15) voted in favour of the treaty, which replaced the EU Constitution rejected by Dutch voters in a referendum held in 2005. 
2More

12.06.08: French Senators may scrap Turkey referendum clause - 0 views

euobserver.com/26314 enlargement enlargementpolicymemberstates france referenda
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 12 Jun 08 - Cached
  • The French Senate's foreign affairs and defence committee on Wednesday (11 June) moved to scrap a clause introduced by parliamentarians in May that would have made it compulsory to hold a referendum on EU membership of large countries, in particular Turkey. The committee said that the provision introduced by the National Assembly as an amendment to a constitutional reform package "could appear to be directed against a friendly state and ally of France, that is Turkey," and is "likely to cause grave harm to diplomatic relations between France and this country."
  • The final decision will be taken in July when the upper and lower houses gather for a congress meeting. The text has to be agreed by a three-fifths majority.
4More

02.06.08: France readies for 'heaviest Presidency in EU history - 0 views

www.euractiv.com/...article-172884 constitution eu-policy_memberstates france french_presidency_2008 ireland lisbon-treaty referenda
shared by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schumann on 10 Jun 08 - Cached
  • On 1 July 2008, France takes over the EU's six-month rotating presidency from Slovenia with an exceptionally busy agenda. According to a French diplomat in Brussels, "this presidency is the heaviest one of all the history of the European Union in terms of workload".
  • "For the first time, you have this coincidence of a heavier Union but there is also the end of the political mandate of the Commission and Parliament as well as the end of the [ratification process of] the Lisbon Treaty. You never had all these things together."
  • Irish referendum on everyone's minds The outcome of the Irish referendum on 12 June will undoubtedly have a considerable impact on the Presidency's schedule. 
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Preparing for the EU diplomatic service And provided all goes well and Ireland ratifies, there will still be a lot to do as the pressure then will fall on preparations for the Treaty's new provisions, which enter into force on 1 January 2009. According to Kouchner, the French Presidency's work there will centre on designating the future permanent president of the Council and the new foreign policy chief, decisions which are all expected to be taken by EU heads of state at a summit in December.
‹ Previous 21 - 40 of 121 Next › Last »
Showing 20▼ items per page