TWO-TIER EU:IRELAND WILL be placing its future relationship with the EU in the hands of French president Nicolas Sarkozy if it votes against the Lisbon Treaty, according to a French EU law lecturer.
Technically, it may be possible for Mr Sarkozy to re-ratify the treaty and move towards a "two-tier Europe", Dr Laurent Pech, NUI Galway Jean Monnet lecturer in EU public law, told The Irish Timesyesterday.
"The bigger EU states will use any Irish No vote to advance this scenario, as weekend reports in French and German press suggest that the 'knives are already out'," Dr Pech said. "France is taking over the EU presidency and so there is real concern about Sarkozy's reaction to an Irish No vote.
"It will be up to Sarkozy to find a solution to ratification and he may agree to negotiate with the Irish Government on a new protocol which reflects Ireland's position and which can be attached to the treaty - or he may say enough is enough, and proceed."
The law lecturer said he did not believe that there was a lack of information in the lead-up to June 12th, but there was a need for regular information on the EU in general, "not just at referendum time".
A four-to-six week campaign period was "far too short a time" to explain a complex legal document, he said, while paying tribute to the Referendum Commission's publication on the treaty.
Dr Pech added that the EU was "not a nation state", and a "complex rule book" as reflected in the treaty was necessary if a "superstate" was to be avoided.
Dr Pech, who has described the Lisbon Treaty as "old wine in a new bottle", said it contained "modest reforms" which did not substantially alter national sovereignty. These reforms aimed to improve the working of EU institutions and would not have "dramatic implications".
"There will be dramatic implications, however, if the treaty is voted down here," he said.