EU TO IRELAND: WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE THE DEMOCRATIC REFERENDUM "FOR YOUR OWN GOOD"

NZHERALD: Leaders not taking 'no' for answer

BRUSSELS - Germany and France moved to isolate Ireland in the European Union yesterday, scrambling for ways to resuscitate the Lisbon Treaty a day after the Irish dealt the architects of the EU's new regime a crushing blow.

Refusing to take Ireland's "no" for an answer, leading politicians in Berlin and Paris prepared for a crucial EU summit in Brussels this week by trying to ringfence the Irish, while demanding that the reform treaty be ratified by the rest of the EU.

The scene is now set for a major clash between the Irish and their European partners after a Dublin minister and sources in the ruling Fianna Fail Party ruled out any chance of a second Irish referendum on the treaty.

... The manner of coping with the Irish rebuff is more likely to deepen the EU's democracy and legitimacy problems.

BBC:

EU foreign ministers have agreed to keep the Lisbon reform treaty alive despite its rejection by Irish voters.

The ministers said those EU members who have not yet ratified the treaty should carry on and do so.

The ministers have been meeting in Luxembourg ahead of a two-day summit in Brussels, starting on Thursday, that is expected to chart the way ahead.

The treaty cannot be implemented unless approved by all 27 EU states. Only the Irish Republic has held a referendum.

• THE EU IS EXPOSING ITSELF, LETTING THE MASK SLIP: IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.
• THE IRISH HAVE KILLED THE EUSSR AND SAVED DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE - UNLESS THE TRANSNATIONAL BUREAUCRATS TRY AGAIN, AS THESE STORIES SEEM TO INDICATE.

STAY TUNED...