Commissioner issue a key change in Lisbon Referendum in October- Pat The Cope

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said that “Originally it is was the case that Ireland only had the right to have a member of the European Commission for ten out of every 15 years. But EU leaders at their summit meeting in December 2008 have agreed that if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified that all EU member states will have the right to appoint a member to the European Commission at all times into the future.”




This is a very significant change from the last Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign and I believe that this political change will help assure many Irish people who voted against the Lisbon Treaty last year because Ireland only would only have a member of the European Commission for ten out of every 15 years.”



Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said that “The European Commission is still a very important political institution. It controls the Common Agricultural Policy and EU Competition Policy and it is still the only European political institution that has the right to initiate legislation.”




“I would warn the Yes campaign against any semblance of complacency over the next two months. We must sell to the people the changes that have been brought about since the referendum last year and this also includes selling the benefits for Ireland from securing key legal guarantees in a range of political issues of concern to our country.”