Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Ireland endorsed the European Union’s new governing treaty, in a reversal of last year’s veto that puts the EU back on course to enhance its global profile and revamp its policymaking system.

The Lisbon Treaty was approved by 67 percent of voters, with 33 percent opposed to the EU’s new rulebook, according to results delivered at the central count center in Dublin. Voters rejected the treaty in June 2008.

“The Irish people have spoken with a clear and resounding voice,” Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen told reporters at government buildings in Dublin. “It’s a good day for Ireland and for Europe.”

Voters switched sides to embrace European shelter, as the economy shrinks at a record pace and unemployment surges. Irish approval leaves the Czech Republic and Poland the only countries yet to ratify the treaty, which would create a full-time EU president as well as streamline decision making.

“There will be a stronger European presence on the world stage,” said Peadar O’Broin, senior researcher at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin. “A lot of people will start to take the European Union as an actor more seriously.”

Signed in Lisbon in 2007, the treaty would also strengthen the European Parliament, create a European bill of rights, allow more joint EU policies in areas from immigration to space exploration, and keep alive the prospect of further EU expansion.

Nearing Unanimity

Ireland became the 25th of the 27 EU countries to ratify. While parliaments in Poland and the Czech Republic have passed the treaty, both require presidential signatures on the final paperwork. EU treaties require unanimous ratification to take effect.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski “will be keeping his word and signing the treaty,” Mariusz Handzlik, a presidential aide, said in a telephone interview today.

In the Czech Republic, allies of anti-EU President Vaclav Klaus filed a supreme court challenge last week, saying the treaty violates Czech sovereignty. The court yesterday barred further ratification steps until it issues a ruling, which may take weeks.

Klaus, a self-professed EU “dissident,” went on Czech television today to assail the rerun of the Irish vote as “wrong” and said he “will wait for the decision of the constitutional court.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s Conservative opposition is lobbying EU nations to oppose a bid to install Tony Blair as the region’s first president, according to the Times newspaper. The party’s lawmaker in charge of foreign affairs, William Hague, told the Times that “there could be no worse way to sell the EU to the people of Britain.”

Potential Candidates

In addition to the former U.K. prime minister, potential contenders for the post include Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and former Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, holder of the EU presidency, called Ireland’s endorsement “a good day for Europe” and voiced confidence that the new rulebook will be in place by the start of 2010. He plans to meet on Oct. 7 in Brussels with Prime Minister Jan Fischer of the Czech Republic, a backer of the treaty.

“It’s the right result for Ireland and the right result for Europe,” European Commission Vice President Margot Wallstroem told reporters in Brussels. “It might be worth a Guinness or two tonight to celebrate.”

‘Dishonorable’

Cowen agreed to hold a second ballot after getting guarantees from EU leaders to safeguard Ireland’s neutrality, keep power over taxes and retain an EU commissioner. Before the vote, Cowen said Europe’s help is aiding Ireland’s economy, as unemployment doubled to 12.6 percent and the banking system grappled with surging bad debts.

“The biggest factor was the economic climate,” said Mary Lou McDonald, vice president of the Sinn Fein party, which opposed the treaty. “The government and opposition political parties told the unemployed that there will be no jobs if Lisbon goes down. It was dishonorable and inaccurate.”

All of the major political parties, except Sinn Fein, campaigned for the treaty. They joined Ryanair Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary and the head of Intel Corp.’s local unit, Jim O’Hara, who spearheaded the business campaign to reverse last year’s vote.

“We wouldn’t really have got through the last few months without the EU,” said Terry Prone, a political analyst who runs the Dublin-based Communications Clinic. “It was cool to vote ‘no’ last time. It marked us as disaffected and independent thinkers. It’s not cool to vote ‘no’ this time.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Ian Guider in Dublin at iguider@bloomberg.net; James G. Neuger in Brussels at jneuger@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 3, 2009 17:22 EDT