A report highly critical of the Nice Treaty has won the broad backing of several Irish MEPs, including some supporting a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum. A vote accepting the report at the end of the Parliament's debate on Europe's future later today could damage the Yes campaign.
The European Parliament report, although acknowledging the treaty's progress towards enlargement, stresses it does not address the EU democratic deficit.
It states that "a union of 27 or more member-states requires more thoroughgoing reforms in order to guarantee democracy, effectiveness, transparency, clarity and governability". It described it as a "half-hearted and in some cases inadequate" response.
Munster's Independent MEP, Mr Pat Cox, supports the report, but said "more needs to be done" to strengthen the EU and make it "real, vigorous and representative". However, he made clear his support for a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty referendum.
Green MEP Ms Nuala Ahern said "Nice was frankly a shambles" that resulted in Ireland losing its automatic right to a Commissioner and that allowed "a core group of member-states to form an elite inner circle". She said the applicant countries would be offered second-class membership, and that it made possible a nuclear-armed force against the wishes of individual member-states.
Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Labour MEP for Dublin and president of the Labour Party, while strongly campaigning for a Yes vote in Ireland, added, "I have my problems with the treaty" and called on the Government to contribute to the debate on the future of Europe.
Fianna Fail MEP Mr Gerry Collins put his support for a Yes vote on the record, and said the treaty "does not build a two-tier European Union". In a veiled response to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's recent comments on tax harmonisation, Mr Collins said any changes in tax laws still required unanimity among member-states.
Fine Gael MEP Mr John Cushnahan said this was "a defining moment in Ireland's relationship with the EU", and the best way to maintain Irish influence in Europe and our respected reputation was to ratify the treaty, though he acknowledged the Irish people needed reassurance over neutrality and sovereignty.