Ireland to make EU more accessible - McAleese

The President, Mrs McAleese has told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that making the European Union more accessible to its citizens would be the central focus of Ireland's upcoming presidency.

Ireland adopts the six-month rotating presidency of the union on January 1st, taking over the mantle from Italy. Mrs McAleese, on a three-day visit to the European institutions in Strasbourg and Luxembourg, told the parliament this morning that Ireland will bring the "enthusiasm of committed Europeans" to the role.

President Mary McAleese

The most important event in Ireland's presidency will, she said, be the formal accession of ten new member states on May 1st, 2004, bring the total membership to 25. Mrs McAleese said Ireland will be involved in accession negotiations with Romania and Bulgaria, and will also monitor Turkey's efforts to secure membership.

With reference to the draft text of the new EU Constitution, she reiterated the Irish Government's desire to see a reference to God included in the treaty. "The new treaty will inject a fresh excitement into the Union, transforming its unfortunate bureaucratic image, re-energizing its relationship with Europe's citizens, making them feel like insiders rather than spectators," the President stated.

Mrs McAleese said the Government will also work to build stronger ties with the global community in the current climate of "deep global insecurity". This would be achieved through stronger emphasis on global, bilateral and regional relationships. Ireland, with its strong cultural and historical ties to the United States, was in a unique position to promote world peace, she added.

"The recent conflicts in Yugoslavia and my birthplace Northern Ireland and the relentless misery of the Middle East should keep us humble and alert to the dangers that still lurk on or close to our own doorsteps," she said. "It is chilling to realise that people can live right next door to one another and yet live in dangerous ignorance and fear of each other."

The President cited the example of the Belfast Agreement as a model for conflict resolution. She said she hoped the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly elections will make the region "a showcase of partnership, tolerance, equality and peace".

She also noted that despite the European Union being the "global leader" in aid for developing countries, with the bloc contributing €25 in Overseas Development Aid annually, the overall level of aid from rich countries "has dropped to an unacceptably low level". She said the simple provision of financial aid, rather than attempting to address the root causes of poverty, shows a "myopic" approach.

"The human misery caused by endemic poverty should shame us all but the instability engendered by it threatens us all," the President said. "Poverty reduction rather than poverty management, is fundamental to Europe's future security strategy."