B-M Brussels has published an analysis of the ramifications of the recent "NO" vote by Irish voters on the European Union's "Lisbon Treaty". The executive summary is copied below as is a PDF of the full report.

Executive summary

The rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Ireland has thrown the European Union into another constitutional crisis. The text – already ratified by 18 member states via parliamentary procedures – aims to make the EU more efficient and democratic, but Irish voters rejected ratification of the text by 53% to 47%, on a high turnout.

With other EU leaders promising that the ratification process will continue, the spotlight now falls on foreign ministers and EU leaders. Both the General Affairs Council and the European Council meet this week and will hold crisis talks on the way ahead. The issue seems set to dominate the forthcoming French presidency as the European Union seeks to find a solution.

At present, three main questions dominate the discussion on how the EU can extract itself from the problems posed by the Irish vote. Can the Irish be offered concessions and asked to vote again on the Treaty? Will the Treaty be abandoned, possibly in favour of introduction of its provisions by Council accords, inter-institutional agreements, or via an accession treaty with Croatia? Or will the other member states continue ratification to isolate Ireland – forcing another vote, or even a two-tier Europe?

At present, all options have difficulties – whether legal or political – and it seems likely that a renewed period of Euro-pragmatism will follow in the months and years to come.

PDF "What's Next for Europe?"