Hartmut Nassauer of the German people’s Party, during the debate which has taken place today at the European Parliament about the six months of the Slovenian presidency and the conclusions of the EU Council, stated that the situation "after the Irish no is tantamount to a crisis of confidence in the European Union" as a whole. Martin Schulz, a German Socialist, wondered about the reasons for the "vote against" of the Irish voters, then added that "the Union needs a welfare policy, because it has enough market as it is". The British Liberal Democrat Graham Watson spoke again of the "need to listen to the citizens", "giving priority to civil rights and such problems as the rises in food and oil prices". Brian Crowley, of the Irish Europe of the Nations party (right wing), praised the "silent diplomacy of Slovenia for a solution in the Western Balkans". Kathy Sinnott, an Irish nationalist, highlighted that "the vote against is evidence that the citizens do not feel at ease with the democratic deficit in Europe".
