Ireland Rejects the Lisbon Treaty and Deals Blow to Europe

The people of Ireland have rejected the Lisbon Treaty in the only referendum on the subject. Concerns about Ireland losing soverignty over its ban on abortion and labor union rights lead to the No vote.

The referendum on the treaty is the only one in the entire European Union. All other countries' ratification will be handled by the government and not the people. But since the treaty needs ratification by all members, the treaty is for all and intensive purposes dead.

Now after the rejection of the European Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty, efforts to solidify the European Union once again will temporally stop. Political elections in Europe will continue to be based more and more on superstate integration and the question of nationalism.