Ireland's past, present and future development is bound up with Europe, the Taoiseach said last night in a strongly pro-EU speech at a Fianna Fβil meeting in Monaghan.
Giving the most detailed account so far of his views on the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, Mr Ahern declared that outside the EU, Ireland would have very little influence on the world stage.
"And the costs of lack of influence are paid in real terms - lost jobs and lost opportunities."
He strongly welcomed the idea of a convention on the future of Europe to be established at the EU summit in Laeken, Belgium, in two weeks' time.
The convention, he said, "should aim to provide a concise and accessible account of the options available to Europe as it charts its way forward."
But he said it should not seek to devise a blueprint for Europe's future. "Such an attempt would, in all likelihood, either be divisive or drift towards the lowest common denominator."