The European Union will find itself left behind advancing nations such as China, India and Brazil if it does not improve its system of governance through the Lisbon Treaty, Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell argued last night.
Speaking at the first in a series of 30 national public meetings Fine Gael is holding in the run-up to the referendum on the treaty, Mr Mitchell said the EU could not continue to operate with the same institutional arrangements.
"China is on the move; Brazil is developing rapidly, as is India. The United States is already very powerful. For Europe to hold its place in the world, we must improve our system of governance.
"Otherwise we will be passed out," Mr Mitchell said.
More than 70 people attended the meeting at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra. Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes and Ben Tonra, Jean Monnet Professor of European Foreign, Security and Defence Policy at UCD, also addressed the gathering.
Mr Dukes said the treaty was the "latest step to fit the European governance system to the purpose it was designed for, and that is to serve the people". The main reason Ireland should vote in favour of the treaty is because "we need more European integration to make our futures more secure than they would be otherwise".
In the face of global challenges, Europe needed to take a "common, concerted" approach if it is to find ways of progressing in a changing world, he added.
Referring to those who have raised concerns over member states' loss of a permanent commissioner, Mr Dukes said it was like "arguing every constituency in Ireland should have a minister in the cabinet."
UCD academic Ben Tonra spoke of the impact of the treaty on EU foreign, security and defence policy.
Claims that the treaty's "solidarity clause", in which member states would offer mutual assistance following an event such as a terrorist attack or natural disasters constituted a "Nato-like promise" were untrue.
He dismissed claims that Article 48 of the treaty renders it "self-amending", saying the treaty would only change if members states unanimously agree to do so and, in addition, national parliaments would have to go through their own processes such as referendums in such a case.