Sir, The European Union (EU) is due to publish its long-awaited ‘Communication on Regional Integration in ACP countries’ soon. The document represents a welcome update of the EU’s strategy of supporting regional integration worldwide, last laid out extensively in 1995. In the intervening years, regional integration has leapt to the forefront of the global agenda, [...]

Sir, The CEPS paper seems rather to be full of surprises than helpful: It is surprising to hear that it would make a difference to the current deadlock if the 26 non-Irish member states ratified the consolidated version of the Treaties as published on 9 May this year. This is not the case since the [...]

Sir, The CEPS paper on saving the Lisbon treaty is helpful and interesting but I have a problem about the political wisdom and especially the feasibility of their Plan B. The plan consists essentially of asking the Irish people to vote to stay in or leave an EU where the Lisbon Treaty applies, perhaps with [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU ministers: Treaty ‘not dead’, ‘emergency plan’ needed’: Following the Irish ‘No’ vote, the future of the Lisbon Treaty will be a key issue at the EU summit on 19-20 June. The European Union certainly needs more democratic and open decision-making mechanisms, as well as a greater degree of transparency that increases the [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Ireland shows EU establishment the red card’ Several correspondents and media sources are suggesting that the failed ratification [of the Lisbon Treaty by referendum] in Ireland is, essentially, an Irish problem to be solved through a ‘Danish solution’ of protocols and so on. This fundamentally fails to understand the nature of this referendum [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Ireland shows EU establishment the red card’: It is a paradox that many who criticise the EU for being undemocratic now rejoice in the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. After all, it was supposed to make the EU more democratic…so why reject an improvement to the current situation? It might not be perfect [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘The Irish EU Treaty Referendum’: On Thursday, the Irish will go to the polls to vote on whether or not to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, as required by the Irish constitution. Opinion polls indicate a swing to the ‘no’ camp, giving it a slight lead. If this were to be the final result, [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU future in doubt as early signs point to an Irish ‘no” As we await the result of the only referendum in the EU on its future and watch as it looks as if the ‘no’ campaign is going to carry the day, I would like to put a few points accross to [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘The Irish EU Treaty Referendum’: Voltaire once said: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” How can this be possible when less than 10 TDs (MPs) in the Dail (Irish lower chamber) out of 166 are concretely questioning the [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Green Light from the Emerald Isle? Questions and Answers about Ireland’: In their paperPdf external , Hierlemann and Heydecker underline the important duty of Irish politicians to ensure that their citizens approve the Lisbon Treaty. So politicians should tell us ho to vote. How interesting. What happened to democracy? I thought the electorate [...]