Treaty defenders consider next move

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The EU's 27 leaders are meeting to pick up the pieces of Ireland's "no" to the Lisbon Treaty last week.

And with the majority of member states insisting the Treaty must not be allowed to die, the fact the UK on Wednesday effectively completed its own ratification of the troubled Treaty has come as much-needed good news.

On the eve of the summit, that irony that it is the UK of all countries giving the EU some welcome relief was lost on no-one.

But the congratulatory atmosphere will not last long, as the summit hears a first detailed report from Irish Premier Brian Cowen on what lost his government similar positive Treaty approval.

Eurosceptics think they know the answer - Ireland alone put the Treaty to the public, while other member states took, or are taking, the softer option of parliamentary ratification.

The UK was the 19th country to sign up, but the Czech Republic, which takes over the EU presidency next January when the Treaty was supposed to come into force, says the document should be declared dead now.

France and Germany are at the other end of the summit debate, leading calls to keep up the momentum to introduce the treaty rules even if it means leaving Ireland in the slow lane.