Europe should be brought back to the centre of people's daily lives rather than confining the debate to "the language and company of the political elite", the chairman of the Forum on Europe, Senator Maurice Hayes, has said.
A natural conclusion to the first phase of the forum would be an interim report on enlargement, and this would be prepared over Christmas. Reviewing the work of the body since its establishment eight weeks ago, Dr Hayes said a number of key concerns had surfaced very clearly.
For example, would the new balance in the European institutions "ensure adequate influence for smaller member-states like Ireland"?
How could citizens best influence the Europe of the future? "What are the roles of national parliaments and the European Parliament in reinforcing democratic legitimacy and transparency and accountability?"
There were concerns over sovereignty, and the question was how Europe could design flexible common policies, e.g. in the area of defence policy where not all members had or might want the same arrangements"
Governance was another key issue. "Who is really making the decisions in Europe? Should our national parliaments contribute to policy-making? How can the voice of the citizen be heard and at the right level?" Dr Hayes asked.
The forum was "beginning the debate on Europe which the Irish people had never really had and which it hoped to bring more immediately to local communities around the country through a programme of mini-fora in provincial centres in the second half of January.
He added: "All of our participants, without exception, support the concept of Europe organised for the welfare of its peoples and ready to play a positive, constructive role in world affairs; and also, Ireland's continued role in Europe."