Brussels, 11/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European institutions reacted to the rejection of the Treaty of Nice by a majority vote on the part of the Irish (53.87% "no", 46.13% "yes", for a turnout of only 34.7%). They stressed that the negative result of the referendum must not delay EU enlargement.
In a joint statement diffused before the General Affairs Council on Monday (see other article), European Council President Göran Persson and European Commission President Romano Prodi said they were "very disappointed", although they did "fully respect the outcome of this democratic process". In their statement, they say: "We know that the Irish Government and the Irish people are committed to the enlargement process. We trust that the Irish Government will make every effort to secure ratification within the agreed time frame" (the Nice conclusions specified that the EU should be able to take in new Member States from end 2002). "The Presidency and the Commission are ready to contribute in every possible way to help the Irish Government find a way forward, taking into account the differing concerns reflected by this result, without changing the substance of the Nice Treaty", continues the statement, which concludes: "Meanwhile, of course, the work of the Union must continue and the Member States and the Commission will pursue the enlargement negotiations with undiminished vigour and determination, (…). The objective of an enlarged Europe must be realised. We must now find the most appropriate way to pursue the goals decided upon at Nice. Our will to secure the accession of new members must be clearly demonstrated. (…) This situation undoubtedly underlines the need for greater efforts from all of us to explain Europe to our citizens and to involve them more thoroughly in the debate about the Union, its role and its future direction".
The European Commissioner responsible for institutional reform, Michel Barnier, affirmed that the commitment concerning enlargement "remains unchanged". Mr Barnier stresses that it will be necessary, in coming months, to make every possible effort "to meet the concerns and doubts of the Irish people and that, at any rate, the "political need to reform the institutions before enlargement remains".
Upcoming European Council President Guy Verhofstadt felt that this signal "must be taken seriously, but should not make us turn off our track". "More than ever, enlargement and consolidation of the EU are needed. In my view, it will be an incentive to set out on paper an ambitious Laeken declaration", said the Belgian Prime Minister, reports the BELGA Agency.
European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine affirmed that she did not see this "no" vote as a refusal of enlargement. In her opinion, this "regrettable crisis has at least one advantage, that of showing (…) that there cannot be accession to substantial reform of European construction without strong and active involvement and participation from citizens". At the EP, EPP-ED Group leader Hans-Gert Pöttering affirmed that the institutional question necessary for enlargement will now have to be resolved in the context of the accession treaties with the countries concerned, and that "it is urgently necessary to consider a new, transparent and democratic procedure for the reform of the European Union". Jean-Louis Bourlanges, French member of the Group, feels it is now essential to convene a Convention "with a view to developing, within a given time frame, the institutional reforms needed for successful enlargement", whereas, attempting to "amend the Nice Treaty to make it acceptable to the Irish public would be prolonging life through therapeutic means. The Treaty of Nice is dead before it has lived". Irish national Pat Cox, leader of the Liberal Group, stressed that the result of the referendum must be respected but noted "this is a grave embarrassment for the Irish government and for the Irish political establishment. This was a battle not so much won by the "no" campaign as lost by a low key "yes" campaign which lacked conviction and intensity". In his view, the Irish Government should reflect on the result and not be rushed or bounced into any premature judgement as to how to proceed". Heidi Hautala, Co-President of the Green/EFA Group, said the enlargement process should not be slowed down. "For us", she said, "the Nice Treaty is no prerequisite for enlargement". She considered that the vote was a "slap in the face to the EU leaders gathered in the European Council", which confirms that a new method for negotiating EU Treaties must be found, with the participation of the European Parliament and national and regional parliaments.
Last Friday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern expressed disappointment that the government and the main parties were not able to persuade a larger number of voters to take a decision of such importance. Mary Harney, Deputy Prime Minister, had considered the result disappointing not only for the Irish but also for the candidate countries. The Irish government remains firmly decided to achieve enlargement in the given time, said Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.
Presentation of European Parliament plenary session (from 11 to 14 June 2001)