It will not be an easy matter for the European Union to convince the Irish people to change their mind when they vote – or if they vote – again in another referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

The Irish expressed the same sentiments as those endorsed by many citizens of other nations across the European Union. I think that if referenda were to be held in other EU member states as Ireland was constrained to do, then more nations would have rejected the treaty.

The same had happened in France and the Netherlands three years ago. I do not think that the citizens there have had a change of heart since then.

The EU must learn to treat its citizens much better. The way things stand, decisions taken in Brussels by a handful of politicians are imposed on millions of citizens who have little to say in the matter.

The Irish vote could be taken as a vote of no confidence in the system and in the way the EU operates. The politicians should not ignore these warning signs. The EU is a good thing, but it can go bad if what the citizens are saying is not taken into consideration.

Michael Camilleri

Mosta