The Lisbon Treaty improves the ability of the European Union to respond to humanitarian emergencies while also maintaining Ireland’s ability to opt in or out of future humanitarian interventions and peace-keeping operations. The Lisbon Treaty will enable the EU to respond more quickly and coherently to crises, and to act more effectively as a peacekeeping force. Importantly, it provides for more leadership by the EU in the world through the President of the European Council and the new Single High Representative for Foreign Affairs to speak for the member states when they agree unanimously. This means that the EU can make its views heard on humanitarian crises.

The Lisbon Treaty enhances Ireland’s ability to contribute to the kind of international action Irish people support while leaving any deeper engagement in common defence policy up to us. Ireland has a long and distinguished history of active engagement to promote peace around the world. The EU’s record in external operations has always been in tune with Irish priorities, and the Lisbon Treaty will continue this tradition. Article 42.1 of the Treaty states that the Common Security and Defence Policy is to be used for “peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

The Lisbon Treaty also maintains and strengthens Ireland’s safeguards in the area of security and defence. The Treaty requires that any decisions relating to security and defence policy must be passed unanimously by the Council (Article 42.2). This means that every state has a full veto over any potential EU mission. The absence of automatic military obligations also remains. The Treaty includes specific assurances that Ireland’s neutrality will be respected (Declaration No. 14) and the legal guarantees attached to the treaty clearly state that it “does not affect or prejudice Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.” The Irish triple lock system will remain, so Irish troops cannot be deployed without the explicit support of the Dáil, the Seanad and the UN.

The Articles:

• Article 21 TEU states that the EU’s actions on the international stage ‘shall be guided by the principles (of)… democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.’
• Article 42.4 TEU and Article 31.1 TEU state that each country is free to opt in or out of any mission.
• Article 42.1 states that the purpose of the Common Security and Defence Policy is peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security ‘in accordance with  the United Nations Charter.’
• Article 42.2 ensures the protection of Irish neutrality by protecting the ’specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states’.

The EU is the most successful peace project in world history. By allowing for greater leadership in the world while developing the capacity to act within the strict confines of humanitarian aims, the Lisbon Treaty has the potential to make the EU an even greater voice for justice and peace in the world.

If you share our belief in these goals,

On October 2nd, Vote YES to Lisbon

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