Ireland Says No - What now for Europe?

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The people of the tiny nation of Ireland were allowed to vote on the new EU reform treaty - and, by rejecting it, have brought the European giant to its knees. Many commentators have pointed out the irony of a country that has
profited like few others from EU membership, rejecting further integration. Opponents said the Treaty of Lisbon creates a soulless and complicated Europe that no one can understand and that seems to swamp national identity. In reality, the reforms are designed to ensure that the enlarged EU regains its ability to act effectively and becomes a globally competitive economic and security area.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Following the No vote by the Irish, the EU heads of state and government now have to find a way to save the Lisbon Treaty and continue with the reforms. The treaty cannot take effect unless all 27 EU members ratify it.
 
After the initial shock, member governments have been trying to play down the problem. Some say the Irish simply haven't understood the European project. Others that the political elite in Brussels failed to explain it properly. Whatever the interpretation, few disagree that Europe is facing an existential crisis.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Whenever the citizens of a country are given the chance to vote on European issues, the EU elites seem to face rejection. Three years ago, French and Dutch voters rejected the draft EU constitution - the document that preceded the reform treaty. Many people seem to associate the idea of Europe with excessive bureaucracy presided over by Brussels, not as a meaningful political, economic, and monetary federation. Many experts believe that if referendums were held in some of the other EU states, the
result would be just as devastating as the Irish vote.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The Lisbon Treaty was supposed to make Europe safer, more efficient, more democratic and more transparent than ever before. Now the dream of Europe may be at risk of remaining unfulfilled. Europe needs a new vision.

What do you think? Ireland Says No - What Now for Europe? Write to us now at Quadriga@dw-world.de

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Our guests were:

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Andreas Rinke - After studying history in Hanover, London and Paris, Andreas Rinke began a career in journalism, initially working as a political editor at the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. He came to Berlin in the year 2000 to take up a job at the Handelsblatt. He still works for the daily financial newspaper as deputy bureau chief responsible for foreign and security policy.

Anthony Paterson - He began his career as a journalist in London and has worked as a foreign correspondent from, Paris, Bonn, Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin. He covered the rise of the Solidarity trade union in Poland for the American news agency UPI and the fall of the Berlin Wall for the BBC. He is now Berlin correspondent for the London daily newspaper, The Independent and for the Sunday newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph.

Wieslaw Wawrzyniak - Born in Poland, Wawrzyniak moved to Berlin after completing a sociology degree at the University of Warsaw. Following further studies in both Germany and Canada, he began his career in journalism with 'Radio Free Europe' in Munich. From 1998 to 2006, heworked for the Poland Desk of the BBC World Service as a correspondent in Berlin. At the same time, he wrote for articles for the Polish Press - including papers like ''Newsweek Polska'' and 'Rzeczpopolita'. He is now a political correspondent and commentator for the polish radiobroadcaster 'Polski Radio'.