MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ireland paves the way for EU enlargement

Ireland overwhelmingly supported last Saturday the key Treaty of Nice that paves the way for the expansion of the European Union beginning January 2004. With all ballots counted 62,49% of voters said Yes, with no electoral circumscription voting against as happened a year ago when a similar vote rejected the Treaty.

Equally important the result ensures that any future moves regarding expansion of the European Union in Ireland will be put to a parliamentary vote and not a popular referendum.

"We can now ratify the Nice Treaty and the truly historic enlargement of Europe can go ahead", stressed Primer Minister Bertie Ahern.

Romano Prodi president of the European Commission said that Europe is now closer to its enlargement objective, "although there's much work still ahead". "A capital vote for the new Europe", remarked Javier Solana, EU' Foreign Affairs High Representative.

The outcome of the voting had a special significance for Mr. Ahern since a year ago the Irish electorate rejected the initiative by 54% fearing a loss of Irish military neutrality and economic and political influence to Brussels.

However turnout in 2001 was less than 35%, but this time 48,45% of Irish voters went to the polls. Supporters of the Nice Treaty argued that expansion means a boost for the Irish economy plus an increase in cultural diversity. The NO camp said the treaty would give Brussels greater control over Irish affairs and claimed the second referendum was undemocratic since it was intended to reverse last year's result.

Actually the number of NO voters remained unchanged with the increased turnout favouring the enlargement of Europe.

EU leaders are expected to meet this week in Brussels to celebrate the Irish victory but also to assess how to finance the entry of so many mainly poor former communist ruled countries.

The ten candidates are Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latonia, Slovakia, Cyprus and Malta.