Lestat wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Is the Constitution/Reform Treaty project dying with a whimper?
In the absence of the bones of the Constitution project, will we see concerted attempts to introduce the meat throught other means and fora?

Wasn't there a suggestion that Lisbon lite could be introduced via the Croatia accession treaty?

There was, but it was contradicted - that is not to say it won't happen.

It seems to me that it was a not so clever gambit in the long run to tie the "deepening" stuff into the same EU treaties as the expansion elements. An honest and practical approach would have worked on the institutions separately from accession issues. We were blackmailed with the line that these treaties were necessary to allow other countries to join. Consequently there is a build up of anger and frustration about the general defectiveness of the Institutions. There is far too much in Lisbon for it to be a Treaty - EU treaties should be broad brush and in principle: all the detail should be on a much more flexible suck it and see basis, so that there can be a lot of fine tuning. I would be in favour of a proper Constitution that simply left out what can't be agreed on.

Our top EU post saved in new plan for Lisbon

I can see us going for it

Quote :

THE guarantee of holding on to a European Commissioner will be the carrot for a 'Yes' vote in a second Lisbon Treaty referendum late next year. The Government is considering a second vote in autumn 2009 -- but this time with assurances on a commissioner, abortion, taxation and neutrality.

Independent link

Was the Commissioner reductions in the Lisbon Treaty designed to be changed in the event of a big number of Don't Know/Vote No votes who would swing the No?

The Cedar Lounge are covering Lisbon II over on the site..
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/and-speaking-of-that-eu-deal/

Auditor #9 wrote:

Our top EU post saved in new plan for Lisbon

I can see us going for it

Quote :

THE guarantee of holding on to a European Commissioner will be the carrot for a 'Yes' vote in a second Lisbon Treaty referendum late next year. The Government is considering a second vote in autumn 2009 -- but this time with assurances on a commissioner, abortion, taxation and neutrality.

Independent link

Was the Commissioner reductions in the Lisbon Treaty designed to be changed in the event of a big number of Don't Know/Vote No votes who would swing the No?

The Cedar Lounge are covering Lisbon II over on the site..
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/and-speaking-of-that-eu-deal/

These are mystifying discussions. The Referendum can't be ratified unless Ireland holds a second referendum and voted for it in its present form. Any so called guarantees and statements would be non binding. It seems hard for everyone on both sides to grasp the extent to which the prize project is a dead duck.