The Lisbon Treaty. White paper

The purpose of this White Paper is to explain the Lisbon Treaty, which was signed in December 2007. The White Paper also provides an account of the in-depth research and extensive consultation which followed the June 2008 referendum in Ireland. It details the agreement reached at the European Council in December 2008 and reiterated at the European Council in June 2009, that each Member State will keep a Commissioner, should Lisbon enter into force. The legally binding guarantees on issues of concern to the Irish people which were secured at the June 2009 European Council are explained, as is the Solemn Declaration on workers' rights and social policy. Ireland's legal guarantees will be registered with the United Nations as an international agreement and will be attached to the EU Treaties as a Protocol at a later date.

• Primary Source

Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs: The Lisbon Treay. White paper. July, 2009 http://www.lisbontreaty.ie/documents/WhitePaperFinal020709.pdf

Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs: The Lisbon Treaty 2009. How have Ireland's concerns been met http://www.lisbontreaty.ie/

Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs: Press Release, 8.7.09: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D. launches White Paper on Lisbon Treaty http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=82342

BBC News, 8.7.09: Irish treaty vote set for October http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8140269.stm

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