PM keeps EU treaty options open

Gordon Brown has refused to rule out any options on the future of the EU Reform Treaty.

Following last week's 'no' vote on the plans in a referendum in Ireland, the government is coming under pressure to put a stop to the ratification process at this week's European Council meeting in Brussels.

Speaking at prime minister's questions in the Commons on Wednesday, Conservative leader David Cameron called for the treaty to be "declared dead".

Brown replied that "we respect the decision of the Irish".

"They have asked to have more time to discuss what their proposals should be to deal with the situation," he said, adding that they themselves had not called for the treaty to be scrapped.

"Just as we have respect for the Irish, we should have respect for the other countries that have ratified the treaty," the prime minister went on.

"We should also have respect for this House," he continued, referring to the Commons' approval of the plan.

However Cameron said Brown was running scared of British public opinion by refusing to hold a referendum in the UK.

"Wouldn't it be ridiculous to let the Irish vote twice when we haven't even been able to vote once?" he asked.

But Brown said the Conservatives are themselves confused on Europe.

"The whole purpose of the treaty" was to allow for enlargement of the EU, he argued, noting that the Tories support the process of expansion.

"The Conservative Party will the ends but they don't support the means," he said.

Cameron came back that Brown says he "doesn't want to bully the Irish" but that "continuing with the ratification is doing just that".

He noted that the foreign secretary justified continuing with the ratification process in the Lords on the basis that he "wants to hear a British view".

But if he "wants to hear a British view" he should hold a referendum, Cameron claimed.

He called on Brown to "give some leadership, tell us what he thinks and kill this treaty today".

The prime minister replied that: "This is not a position of principle, it is opposition for opposition's sake once again."

Cameron is "being led by the backbencher anti-Europeans" in the Conservative Party, he added.

"We know where we are; we are in favour of Europe," Brown said.

Debates

The exchanges came as MPs and peers prepared to debate the EU in the wake of the Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

MPs were on Wednesday holding a general debate on European affairs, an event scheduled before meetings of the EU Council.

Heads of state and government will meet for the two-day Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, where the future of the European Reform Treaty is likely to be high on the agenda.

Voters in the Irish Republic last week rejected the document, which must be ratified by all 27 EU member states.

The process of ratification has also reached the House of Lords, where the European Union (Amendment) Bill was set for its third reading.

Lord Howell of Guildford, the deputy leader of the Opposition and chief foreign affairs spokesman, tabled an amendment aimed at stalling the legislation.
 
If successful, it would prevent the third and final reading until October at the earliest to allow Parliament to "consider the most appropriate response to the changed circumstances and uncertainties caused by the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in the Irish referendum".

Irish minister are considering whether they can re-run the referendum, but say they need time for a calm analysis of the 'no' vote.