EU enlargement now key project, says Cowen

Enlargement has become the key EU project for completion this year, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Government "believes it has the full backing of the Irish people. Surveys of public opinion throughout the EU confirm that Irish people are one of the most positively disposed to enlargement".

Speaking at a European Council meeting at Laeken in Belgium, Mr Cowen said many of the Irish concerns regarding the "European project" exist in other EU states. He said the Laeken Declaration on the Future of Europe "raises many of the issues that featured in our own referendum on the Nice Treaty". Existing balances in the EU had "served Ireland well, and while we are determined to protect our national interests as a small state, we will play a constructive role in the convention".

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the convention will include two representatives from each national parliament and "detailed consideration is being given to who will represent Ireland." He said it would be a challenge to everyone to ensure that the "significance of other vital aspects of European integration are made as tangible to our citizens as the euro changeover has been".

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said Ireland's role "will be a particularly sensitive one given that the expansion of the Union hangs, at least to an extent, on how we move forward following the outcome of last year's referendum on the Nice Treaty".