EU COMMISSIONER Margot Wallstrom has denied she told the Government Brussels would "tone down" initiatives before the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
The Swedish commissioner moved yesterday to distance herself from a leaked e-mail from a senior British diplomat based in Dublin, which suggested the EU executive was playing a "helpful, low-profile role" to boost the Yes campaign in Ireland.
"The commission work programme has been published. It's a public document. Nothing has been taken out of the work programme or put back," Ms Wallstrom's spokesman told The Irish Times. "We will continue to carry out our duties."
The e-mail, extracts of which are published below, includes other embarrassing details of what the diplomat believed to be the Government's strategy for handling the EU referendum. The diplomat sent the e-mail to the British foreign office on February 29th after receiving a briefing from a senior official in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The e-mail contains embarrassing opinions on French president Nicolas Sarkozy, describing him as "completely unpredictable".
It raises fears about a French plan to promote EU defence during its presidency of the union, due to begin in July.
It also says a World Trade Organisation deal in May could lead the powerful farming lobby to withdraw its support from the referendum campaign.
The Government has denied any knowledge of the leaked e-mail, while the British government has refused to comment on a leak that could damage bilateral relations.
Ms Wallstrom met Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern in Dublin in February for talks about the upcoming treaty referendum.
It is understood she said there were no controversial commission proposals on the agenda that would impact on the referendum campaign in the Republic. But she strongly denies saying the commission is actively delaying sensitive legislative proposals, such as its draft plan to harmonise the EU's corporate tax base.
Earlier this year, the commission was criticised for delaying publication of the so-called "healthcare services directive" - a proposal that would make it easier for citizens to access healthcare services in other member states.
Britain is one country that has serious concerns about the plan for fear it would disrupt its national health service. The commission said the publication of the proposal was delayed due to timetabling problems in January.