Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt comments on the result of the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon.

”After all the uncertainty and hard work, I must say: Today is a good day for Europe. I am very pleased about the very positive outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Europe has listened to - and acted on - the concerns of the Irish people. This is European cooperation at its best. It’s a good thing for Ireland and a good thing for the European Union”, says Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, commenting on the “Yes”-result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

“It is my firm belief that the Lisbon Treaty will make the enlarged Union more democratic, more efficient and more transparent. It is now important to get the Treaty in place. The European Council is united in its wish to see the Treaty enter into force before the end of the year.”

“But the Treaty cannot enter into force until all Member States have ratified. We have been in contact both with Poland and the Czech Republic. I understand that the Polish President will sign the legal act shortly and I have invited the Czech Prime Minister Fischer and the Commission President Barroso to a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. We will then discuss the situation and see what actions can be taken to move the situation forward.”

“I also see the need to go to the European Parliament on Wednesday. And I will send my Minister for European Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, to the Czech Republic on Thursday. Again; this is a good day for Europe.”

At the European Council at the end of October the EU heads of states will meet in Brussels.