1.  a) How many countries are members of the European Union?
b)  How many EU countries must approve the Lisbon Treaty for it to be adopted?

2.  What is the Lisbon Treaty?

3.  In how many EU countries are the citizens allowed to vote on whether they want the treaty to pass?

4.  Who supports the Lisbon Treaty?

5.  For what reasons do others in Ireland oppose the Lisbon Treaty? (see. para. 9)

6.  Why is the passage of the Lisbon Treaty important to France?
(NOTE: The Lisbon Treaty is similar to the EU Constitution, which was voted down in 2005 by the citizens of France.  The French voters did not have the opportunity to vote for/against the Lisbon Treaty as it was decided by the French parliament only.)

7.  From a blog entry titled "Why I oppose the Lisbon Treaty" the writer states: "If, therefore, [the Lisbon Treaty's] ratification is so paramount with regard to the future of Ireland, and indeed Europe, then why are we the only nation voting on it?  Surely, in any democracy, people are entitled to decide on issues which fundamentally shape their future, right?  A half a billion people now live in the E.U., but only a few million [the Irish voters] are being asked for their opinion in a referendum being billed ... as the most import in a generation."
Do you think that the Lisbon Treaty should be ratified by the citizens of each EU country, or by the parliaments/politicians?  Explain your answer.

PLEASE NOTE:  "Answers by Email" has ended for the summer.