Ireland had "never had any difficulty whatever from Europe" on matters relating to neutrality, the Taoiseach said yesterday.
Mr Ahern was responding to a question on whether Ireland had ever been asked to become a military base, at a news conference in the Maltese capital Valetta.
"Ireland is a neutral country. Any decisions we make are sovereign decisions made by the Irish Government. We have never had any difficulties whatever from Europe on these matters," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Ahern was making a brief official visit to the Mediterranean island, accompanied by Ms Celia Larkin, as part of a tour which includes Cyprus and Morocco. During his stay he held talks with government and opposition leaders on European and bilateral issues.
Neutrality is a key topic in the Maltese debate on proposed membership of the EU. The Taoiseach pointed out that Ireland had contributed to UN peacekeeping since 1959. "We take our lead on these matters from the UN," he said. Questioned about the benefits of EU membership for smaller countries, Mr Ahern said that although there had been ups and downs in the economic cycle since Ireland joined the Community in 1973, "as Ireland has developed and extended its role as a trading country, Europe has been massively helpful to us".
As a young man he had canvassed for a Yes vote to membership because he believed Ireland's future lay with the European Economic Community, as it was known at the time. "Europe allows us to be part of an economy of 500 million people and that allows us to grow," he said.
Ireland is the biggest exporter of computer software products in the world and the economy is thriving. "Could we have done that on our own as an isolated country? Well, I don't think I have to answer the question because I think it's self-evident," he said.
On the single European currency and EU influence over fiscal matters in member-states, Mr Ahern said the "disciplines and the coherence of policy" under such an arrangement were beneficial to the Irish economy. "I do not see that as some infringement of our freedoms; yes, there are disciplines but they are good disciplines," he said.
The audience at the Taoiseach's news conference included the Irish campaigner against further European integration, Mr Anthony Coughlan, who said afterwards that if the Government failed to hold a referendum on the Treaty of Nice and tried to ratify it by a Dail vote there were "one or two people who would quite definitely seek a court challenge".
"I understand that it would be open to any citizen to apply to a court for declarations in advance of an attempt to ratify by the Dail," he said.
Mr Coughlan is in Malta assisting a local campaign which opposes EU membership.