Other states share Irish tax terms, says Cowen

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, yesterday insisted Ireland was not alone in resisting any EU move to majority voting on taxation. But Mr Cowen, attending a meeting of foreign ministers here, did concede new Irish flexibility on two controversial treaty reform issues due to be discussed at the forthcoming Nice summit. Ireland is now willing to give up its veto over decision-making on crossborder social welfare issues, and has indicated it is prepared to see a summit declaration reference to a further review in a few years of the size of the Commission.

But Mr Cowen insisted any such reference must not prejudge the entitlement of each member state to a commissioner and he insisted the French presidency should not give the impression a consensus was developing on the issue. Sweden, Luxembourg and the UK share Ireland's position on taxation, he said, insisting the issue is one of principle, touching on key aspects of sovereignty. The latest French draft text "does not meet any of our concerns", he said.

Proposals under consideration at the Inter-Governmental Conference would only move decision-making on common EU VAT and excise rates, and aspects of the fight against fraud to majority voting, but Ireland insists it will not move even on such issues. "Those are my clear instructions," the Minister said.