McCreevy: Treaty rejection could hurt nation’s image
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European Union Financial Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said Ireland’s image among international investors may be damaged should the country’s voters reject the Lisbon Treaty for a second time.
There is an “unacceptably high risk” that foreign investors would “take fright” following a “no” vote in next month’s referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, McCreevy said in Dublin today.
The second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty takes place October 2 after the government secured guarantees on issues including neutrality, taxes and abortion. The Lisbon Treaty was initially rejected in a June 2008 referendum.
“Why brew up a lethal cocktail by sending a signal to international investors that we are becoming more distant from Europe and all of the opportunities it has to offer, just at the time we need their financial support most,” McCreevy said. “In these fragile economic circumstances, gambling on the consequences of a ‘no’ vote would, for me, be a gamble too far.”
© Bloomberg
- Louisa Fahy
