Ireland and the EU

Latest business news about Ireland and the European Union

• Ireland country profile

Ireland 'could not survive' without EU, says PM — 24 June 2009, 15:58 CET

Ireland could not weather the economic crisis if it were not part of the eurozone, Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Wednesday, voicing confidence in winning a second referendum on a key EU reform treaty.

Irish PM refuses to contemplate EU treaty defeat — 21 June 2009, 23:34 CET

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Sunday he was confident Ireland would not deliver a second rejection of the EU's reform Lisbon treaty in a referendum later this year.

Ireland eyes 'yes' in new EU poll, but criticism persists — 19 June 2009, 23:17 CET

Irish political leaders said Friday they were confident that a new referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty in October would give the text the go-ahead, but opponents promised to put up a fight.

Irish set to return to polls with EU treaty guarantees — 19 June 2009, 23:09 CET

Irish citizens are set to vote in a new European Union referendum in October after their government secured guarantees Friday that a new EU reform treaty will not limit Ireland's sovereignty.

Irish PM expects new EU treaty referendum in early October — 19 June 2009, 23:03 CET

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Friday that he expects a new referendum to be held in Ireland on a vast European Union reform treaty in early October.

EU's Barroso confident of Irish 'yes' in second treaty vote — 19 June 2009, 20:00 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso voiced confidence Friday that Irish voters would back the EU's Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum after Dublin secured guarantees on sovereignty.

EU clinches deal on Irish treaty vote: diplomats — 19 June 2009, 23:01 CET

Ireland secured Friday legal guarantees on sovereignty issues from European partners to pave the way for a second Irish referendum on the EU's reform treaty, the EU presidency confirmed.

EU struggles to agree treaty guarantees for Ireland — 19 June 2009, 11:11 CET

European Union leaders struggled Friday to give ironclad guarantees to Ireland that a new treaty of reforms will not limit its sovereignty, without forcing other nations to ratify the package again.

EU seeks compromise deal with Irish on Lisbon Treaty — 19 June 2009, 11:07 CET

European leaders will on Friday seek a way to grant Ireland the reassurance its needs to approve the EU's Lisbon Treaty, without handing fellow nations the fraught task of formally ratifying a new text.

EU to grant Ireland guarantees ahead of treaty vote — 18 June 2009, 23:11 CET

European leaders on Thursday were close to approving Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as EU Commission chief, but struggled to agree on how to relaunch the stalled Lisbon Treaty in Ireland.

Irish premier at odds with EU leaders over treaty guarantees — 18 June 2009, 23:10 CET

Irish premier Brian Cowen battled Thursday to convince EU counterparts to deliver guarantees he says are needed to stage and win a second referendum on the bloc's stalled Lisbon Treaty.

EU to grant Ireland guarantees ahead of treaty vote — 18 June 2009, 23:06 CET

European Union leaders met Thursday to grant Ireland guarantees on issues like abortion and military neutrality to ensure its voters will back a sweeping reform package that they earlier rejected.

Irish premier stresses 'common goal' of treaty pledges — 18 June 2009, 18:50 CET

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Thursday urged his European counterparts to provide a "clear and unequivocal commitment" that guarantees Dublin is seeking over the bloc's Lisbon Treaty will later be given full treaty status.

Irish PM confident on EU treaty guarantees at summit — 18 June 2009, 13:06 CET

Prime Minister Brian Cowen Thursday said he was confident that EU leaders will grant guarantees on social and military issues needed to convince Irish voters to back the reforming Lisbon Treaty.

Irish minister eyes 'resounding yes' in new EU poll — 18 June 2009, 13:05 CET

Ireland's Europe Minister Dick Roche voiced confidence Thursday that Irish voters will deliver a "resounding 'yes'" in a second referendum later this year on the EU's beleaguered reform treaty.

EU leaders to grant Ireland treaty guarantees: sources — 17 June 2009, 20:05 CET

EU leaders will this week grant Ireland guarantees designed to persuade its voters to back the bloc's Lisbon Treaty, but British concerns could stop PM Brian Cowen getting all he wants, sources said Wednesday.

Czech president wants vote on Ireland treaty guarantees — 17 June 2009, 23:03 CET

Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Wednesday his country's parliament must ratify the guarantees the EU is to give Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty this week, or he would not approve them.

Ireland plans new defence laws ahead of EU treaty vote — 17 June 2009, 19:56 CET

The Irish government said Wednesday it will introduce new defence laws ahead of its second vote on the EU Lisbon Treaty to underline its commitment to military neutrality, a key issue in the first vote.

Ireland set to receive EU treaty guarantees — 15 June 2009, 23:39 CET

EU nations on Monday seemed set to hand Ireland its coveted guarantees on the Lisbon Treaty this week, while offering no promise that they would ratify them later, something Dublin had sought.

One year on, Irish voters warm to European treaty — 12 June 2009, 10:30 CET

A year after throwing the EU into turmoil with their rejection of the Lisbon reform treaty, recession-battered Irish voters are getting behind the "yes" camp ahead of a second referendum.

Ireland votes 'no' : to EU treaty critics — 08 June 2009, 23:49 CET

The leader of the group which spearheaded Irish opposition to the EU's Lisbon treaty conceded defeat Monday in his bid to win election in European polls, as his movement won only one seat across the bloc.

Irish critic of EU treaty faces near poll wipeout — 08 June 2009, 21:10 CET

The leader of a group which spearheaded Ireland's rejection of the EU reform treaty last year was struggling Monday to get elected in EU polls, while his movement only won one seat across Europe.

Irish coalition partner Greens wilt in voter backlash — 07 June 2009, 21:09 CET

The leader of Ireland's Green party, the junior coalition partner, said Sunday it would stay in government despite suffering a virtual wipeout in local elections.

Ireland set to pass EU treaty in second vote: poll — 07 June 2009, 15:34 CET

The EU's Lisbon treaty would be passed "quite comfortably" in an expected second referendum in Ireland later this year, according to a European election exit poll published Sunday.

Irish PM's party suffers ballot-box hammering — 07 June 2009, 00:20 CET

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen's party suffered a vote collapse in two parliamentary by-elections and faces heavy losses in local councils, exit polls and first results showed on Saturday.