Survey reveals strong Irish support for EU

Support for the European Union is higher in Ireland than in any other member state, according to a new European Commission survey.

Results of the survey were released as EU leaders assembled in Brussels today for a summit meeting, to be held in the nearby suburb of Laeken. The subjects of Afghanistan and the Middle East are expected to dominate talks.

The latest poll of public opinion about the EU shows 81 per cent of Irish people believe EU membership to be "a good thing". This was the highest along with Luxembourg of all member states.

The UK ranked as the most dissatisfied member state, with only 33 per cent saying they thought EU membership to be "a good thing".

The poll also showed that 73 per cent of Irish people support the euro, the fourth-highest behind Luxembourg, Italy and Greece. A total of 64 per cent said they trusted the EU Commission; 60 per cent said they supported the EU constitution.

But only 50 per cent of those surveyed in the State said they were in favour of common defence and security policies.

In general the poll showed increased backing for integration since the September 11th terrorist attacks in the US across EU member states, with more people feeling the need for common security and defence policies.

Commission President Mr Romano Prodi will tell the summit that the findings confirm his belief that the new terrorist threat signals a need for greater integration and more cooperation - a strong new push for a united Europe.

A "Laeken Declaration" at the end of the two-day meeting will set out a timetable for simplifying the EU's complex institutions to cope with enlargement in the next few years. It will also set up a "Convention", beginning in March 2002, to produce ideas for further integration.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to raise the subject of eight refugees whose bodies were found in a container in Wexford as part of talks on asylum and migration law in the EU. The summit marks the start of a major overhaul of the way the EU works.

After lunch with Belgium's King Albert II, the EU leaders will turn to the prospect of setting up the "European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice" - streamlining national visa and asylum policies.

Another "intergovernmental conference" is already scheduled for 2004 to produce yet another EU Treaty revision - even though the last one, agreed at Nice a year ago, has been rejected by Ireland and not yet ratified by all the other member states.