In fact, the Irish decision puts the Lisbon Treaty on ice, because a unanimous YES by all Member States is required. Brussels stresses that the Treaty is not dead yet, but it's not clear how to proceed from here.

It is an interesting question how this decision will affect the EU's position in energy and climate. In the long run, the Treaty would definitely have had a positive influence on the ability of the EU to act as one political unit in energy and climate policies, as it would have in foreign policies.

In the short term, there should be concerns about the Energy and Climate package and the international negotiations regarding a post-Kyoto climate policy agreement.

Most experts in the field think that the EU train running on the track of energy and climate will not be stopped, not even delayed. However, the time schedule for adoption of the package by both the Council and the Parliament is very tight and delicate.

Is the commitment of France, the next EU President, to energy and climate sufficiently large to withstand the critical stage of the EU Treaty? It would be rather dangerous to leave the finalization of the package to the Czech Republic, with its climate-skeptical President.

All 27 Member States have agreed on the general outlines of the Energy and Climate Package. But now the 'devils in the details' emerge and Member States are negotiating about their positions.

I surely hope this will not water down any commitment, because that will also affect the international position in the post-Kyoto negotiations.

The next few days, with the Council of EU government leaders in Brussels, will reveal a lot more about the resistance of the EU against attacks from the inside.

Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices
r.devos@greenprices.com