The Irish Opt Outs from the Lisbon Treaty? Lessons of the Danish Experience

Ireland have been facing some of the same challenges as when the Danes rejected the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. A solution to the ratification crisis that could satisfy both the Irish people and the remaining member states needed to be found. A way of addressing the concern of the citizens needed to be identified. There are a number of interesting similarities between the two cases, and hence, also lessons to be learned for both Ireland and Denmark.