THE Taoiseach delivered a strong message to Euro sceptics, particularly Britain, yesterday, saying that some member states were too slow to realise that they nee the EU perhaps more than it needed them.
Mr Bruton said Britain wanted enlargement of the EU, yet it criticised the proposals to increase powers to cope with this expansion. There was a contradiction there and therefore pressure was on the UK and everyone else to come to a reasonable and ambitious compromise.
The Taoiseach was speaking at a press conference after his address to the European Parliament on the state of the Union. His speech was generally well received, with MEPs from other member states impressed that he rose above detail and gave a broad picture.
At the press conference, Mr Bruton said Britain wanted to see enlargement of the Union, yet criticised the Intergovernmental Conference's aims. The conference is discussing a new treaty to cope with an expanded EU.
However there could not be enlargement unless there was a successful conclusion to the conference, he added.
In answer to another question Mr Bruton agreed with a criticism made by the President of the European Parliament, Dr Klaus Hansch, about certain member governments not being prepared to move forward. There was a slowness by some member governments to realise that they needed the EU perhaps more than the EU needed them.
A lot of people tended to take the Union's achievements unduly and unwisely for granted. If the EU was not such a strong and good thing, why did so many countries from Eastern Europe want to join? How could any member state say that the EU was not good for its own country when it wanted Poland and other countries to join?
"Where would we be without it? That is what the Euro sceptics have to answer," said Mr Bruton.
On BSE, the Taoiseach said the crisis could only be overcome by EU agreements being made and honoured. He said he wanted to pay tribute to the way the crisis had been dealt with in Northern Ireland, particularly with regard to tracing elements, to ensure the status of the meat enhanced consumer confidence.
The President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, said a number of stages for lifting the ban on British beef had been arranged. It was up to the British to come up with proposals to implement the various arrangements; it was not up to the Commission.
Mr Bruton fielded with good humour questions about the small attendance in the parliamentary chamber at times during the debate. The chamber was only about a quarter full at times. The attendance was better than in most national parliaments in the week, he declared.