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Article: 2nd LD Writethru: Ireland rejects Lisbon Treaty, EU expresses regret
- Article from:
- Xinhua News Agency
- Article date:
- June 13, 2008
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Xinhua News Agency. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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2nd LD Writethru: Ireland rejects Lisbon Treaty, EU expresses
regret
LONDON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Irish voters on Friday rejected the
Lisbon Treaty on European Union (EU) reform, dealing a heavy blow to
the bloc's hopes of putting the treaty into effect from Jan. 1,
2009.
Official results show that 53.4 percent voters vetoed the treaty
in the referendum, Sky News reported.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he was disappointed with
the result but the government "accepts and respects the verdict of
the Irish people."
The Lisbon Treaty, signed by European leaders last December, is
designed to make much-needed institutional reforms in the EU
possible.
The treaty must be ratified by all ...