European Union leaders hold a summit Thursday in Brussels to talk about
the future of the new EU reform treaty, following its rejection by
voters in Ireland.
Hopes for the treaty's future got a boost Wednesday when the British parliament ratified it.
British
Prime Minister Gordon Brown told lawmakers he respects the Irish
referendum, but that it did not mean other EU members could not proceed
with ratification.
All 27 EU members must ratify the treaty in order for it to take effect.
EU officials have said they will push Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowan to say whether another vote in Ireland is possible.
While
some EU leaders want to continue the ratification process, Czech
President Vaclav Klaus said the pact should be considered dead.
The
treaty would reform EU institutions, streamline the decision-making
process, and give more power to the EU president and foreign policy
chief.
It is a revised version of the EU constitution, which was abandoned after French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
