Cameron’s EU plans would require Irish referendum

04 Nov 2009, by Nigel Stanley in International, Politics, Working Life

David Cameron is to say today that he wants to “repatriate” employment and social law. I do not see how this can be done without changes to the EU’s treaties. It would therefore require the unaminous support of every EU member. Every other EU country has a veto.

Ireland is constitutionally required to hold a referendum on treaty changes. So Ireland would have to have a referendum on a new UK opt-out. That would be an interesting campaign.