SPANISH PRIME minister José-Luis Rodrígues Zapatero has said that if the EU Council adheres to the previous practice of refusing to produce a consolidated text until after the Lisbon Treaty is passed, it could have negative consequences for citizens.
In a letter sent to Marian Harkin, the independent MEP for the North-West constituency, Mr Zapatero writes: "As you know the practice that has prevailed in the EU up to now had been to not publish consolidated versions of the amended treaties until such a time as the amended treaties had come into force
"Notwithstanding the aforementioned, I strongly agree with you that this practice, which is no doubt due to legitimate legal and most of all political reasons, could be harmful if it were to threaten the development of a suitable policy of informing citizens." The letter, dated February 15th, continues with Mr Zapatero stating that he is "absolutely certain" that Irish authorities have already requested on numerous occasions that the secretary general of the European Council produce a consolidated version. "I can assure you that Spain has no objection whatsoever in this regard," he says.
The German government has also responded to Ms Harkin by saying it supports the availability of a consolidated version of the Lisbon Treaty before the referendum.
Its European affairs junior minister Günter Gloser expresses the hope that the consolidated version would "appear in good time before the referendum in Ireland so that your citizens can use it to find out more about the new treaty".
The positions of the Spanish and German governments have emerged after Ms Harkin wrote to all EU governments last December canvassing their opinions on the absence of a consolidate version of the treaty in advance of its ratification. The council, at the December summit, decided not to print a consolidated version. Since then, the Government has been criticised by groups calling for both a No and Yes vote for its decision not to produce a readable text.
Joe Costello of the Labour Party - which is campaigning for the treaty - clashed with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the Dáil over the absence of a consolidated text earlier this week.
Ms Harkin said: "There is concern in Europe that the Irish electorate will not have an easily understood version of the proposed treaty to help them in their decision. "The Bill published this week does nothing to clarify what people are being asked to vote on," she said.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: "There should be no further delay in the Taoiseach naming the date. His failure to do so is damaging the prospect of a positive result as it adds to public confusion about the treaty."