'no' vote means ireland must leave the european union

That seems to be the only tenable solution to the situation created by the Irish "No" to the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish have created a problem for themselves. They should not let it be a problem for others.

It would be sad to lose the merry people of the "Emerald Isle" from the EU family. But it would be even sadder if, because of the Irish "No", all those who wish to secure the same benefits from European integration that made it possible for the Irish to prosper are left out in the cold.

EU enlargement cannot continue without the many practical and pragmatic elements included in the treaty. And the enlargement process is the most important endeavour the EU has undertaken. It should be regarded as an important element of Europe's security policy, helping countries that have only recently democratised to secure stability and giving them the strength to deal with external pressures.

It is a pity the Irish - and their partners - did not learn the lesson from Ireland's rejection of the Treaty of Nice seven years ago. Then as now, only a minority of voters bothered to vote, and a mere 54 per cent of those who did participate, then as now, voted no. A year later, a new referendum approved the Treaty, after it became clear that Ireland's EU membership was at stake.

The unfortunate Irish tradition for referenda should have been addressed after that experience. It was not. Now the EU is again in the Irish stew. But this time it is difficult to see a way out. Renegotiating the treaty is out of the question, since doing so would open a Pandora's Box of demands from everybody. The problem lies with the Irish, and they must solve it.

I recall the summer of 1992, when a small majority of Danish voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty. The Danes were told in unmistakable terms that one way or another the country would have to leave the EU family if we did not find a way out. As Denmark's foreign minister at the time, I was able to secure some opt-outs from EU directives, and then a second referendum was held. The result was a "Yes" to the Maastricht Treaty. We in Denmark have been marred by those opt-outs ever since.

Our European partners could not throw us out in June 1992 - but the other 11 could create their own EC-11, and we could have been left alone in the empty shell of an EC-12. The Irish should show magnanimity and tell the others to go on without them.

The Irish have been a good example for the new member states. When Ireland joined the EC back in 1972, it was so poor that many feared it would become a burden for the other members. The Irish never were. On the contrary, over a surprisingly short span of time Ireland proved how a small and determined country could use European integration to rise to the status of one of Europe's richest countries in terms of per capita purchasing power.

Indeed, Ireland has made itself a shining example to those who strive to catch up with the rest of Europe. That is one reason it will be a loss to say goodbye to the Irish, and why their frivolous rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is so tragic. But Europe must go on. It is now up to Ireland's leaders to make that possible.

Uffe Ellemann-jensen is a former foreign minister of Denmark.

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