The Legal Research Society

Professor Charles Wyplosz has a very interesting and succinct piece in yesterday’s Financial Times on the rejection of the Lisbon treaty by the Irish voters. Interestingly, Wyplosz argues, when discussing whether certain EU issues and questions are unsuited for national referendums due to complexity, that European voters are merely cynical as rejection of grand EU policies, be it the failed constitution or treaties, is the only way in which citizens of Europe get to have a say in the Union’s policy. This is a point regularly overlooked in the frantic discussions that often follow popular refusal to vote Yes to the various EU policies.

Early indications from Ireland point towards a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish people. The BBC has the latest . UPDATE: While it is likely that Ireland will face significant criticism in EU circles for turning down the Lisbon Treaty, and arguments in Brussels are likely to go along the lines of “after all we have done fore Ireland” and “with all the money they have received”, polls indicate that many voters have voted no simply because they claim that they did not understand the Treaty. In this light, it is evident that the Irish Yes campaign and its supporters from across Europe has failed in pointing out the benefits of the Treaty to the Irish voters.

A poll published today in the Irish Times indicates that this is not as far fledged a scenario as most Eurocrats would have thought likely. The Irish will vote on the Lisbon Treaty, as the only country, next week. Currently, the number of people intending to vote No has almost risen to 35 per cent whereas the Yes side stands at 30 per cent. Although undecided voters still amount to a massive 28 per cent, the surge in support for the No side is striking. If indeed the Irish decide to turn down the Treaty, this is likely to be a significant chock to Brussels and will undoubtedly deliver a big blow to the EU, given that it is not yet clear what will happen should the Lisbon Treaty fail to be incorporated in all 27 countries; European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is today by Reuters quoted as saying “there is no plan B”.