"No" would be bad for whole EU-Barroso

(This story first appeared on May 26)

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - An Irish "No" vote in a June 12 referendum on the European Union's Lisbon treaty would be bad for the whole of Europe, including Ireland, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday.

Barroso told the European Policy Centre think-tank the 27-nation bloc could be stuck with an unresolved problem of institutional reform for years if Irish voters reject the treaty, meant to make an enlarged Union work more effectively.

"There is no Plan B," Barroso said. "If there was a "No", in Ireland or in another country, it would have a very negative effect for the EU."

"We will all pay a price for it, Ireland included, if this is not done in a proper way," he said.

The treaty, replacing the defunct EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, would give the bloc stronger leadership, a more democratic decision making system and a more effective foreign policy apparatus.

Latest opinion polls show that the Irish "Yes" camp's lead has narrowed in the past two weeks. Ireland is the only country in Europe holding a plebiscite on the treaty, which others are ratifying in parliament.

A poll conducted between May 19-21 and published on Sunday showed 41 percent in favour and 33 percent against, with 26 percent undecided.