UK to continue EU reform treaty ratification process News
UK to continue EU reform treaty ratification process

[JURIST] UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband [official website] said Sunday that parliament would continue the process to ratify the EU reform treaty [JURIST news archive], formally known as the Treaty of Lisbon [official website; PDF text], despite an Irish referendum which rejected the treaty last week [JURIST report]. Miliband said that even though the Treaty requires unanimous approval by all 27 EU member states, it is still important for Britain to voice its decision on the proposed rules. He rejected French and German leaders' calls to consider adopting the treaty without Ireland. The House of Lords [official website] will vote on the treaty Wednesday; the Commons approved the pact in March. The Telegraph has more. The Belfast Telegraph has additional coverage.

Netherlands Prime Minister Peter Balkenende [official profile] said Friday that his country would also press on with its consideration [JURIST report] of the treaty in line with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso's general call [press release, PDF] to remaining states to do so.