WP says larger EU states `rewriting treaty'

Workers' Party spokesman Mr Padraig Mannion has said that the larger EU countries are rewriting the Nice Treaty to suit themselves, while the Irish people were being told they must accept the treaty as it stands.

He referred to recent comments by the French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, the incoming Italian prime minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, and the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, in which each laid out plans for Europe.

"All of these countries are discussing the future as if the Nice Treaty was already passed, yet the Irish Government is not even prepared to debate the treaty that is before the Irish people on June 7th," he said.

He pointed out that the Irish people were "in a powerful position to defend Ireland's interests and those of other small member-states and applicants. Only the Irish people can put a spanner in the works and prevent the creation of a monstrous European super state by voting No," he said.

Fianna Fail MEP Mr Brian Crowley said it was "very important from an economic point of view that we ratify the Nice Treaty." Ireland exported 85 per cent of its produce to the EU marketplace of 370 million consumers. This would expand to 500 million on enlargement.

Voting Yes would ensure new market opportunities would open up to us in Central and Eastern Europe. It would also help bring peace and stability to the EU.

Mr Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael yesterday accused those opposed to ratifying the Nice Treaty of being "on the edges of political thinking". They tended to be "on the extremes of every political issue," he said.