Sir, - In reference to the future of the European Union, Paul Gillespie (World View, April 7th) quotes approvingly the vision of Alexander the Great. On October 13th, 1999, EU Commission President Prodi told the EU Parliament: "We must face the difficult task of moving towards a single economy, a single political entity. For the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire we have the opportunity to unite Europe."
The willingness of EU fanatics to seek inspiration from empires based on military power, slavery and an inequitable distribution of wealth that would make McCreevy and Harney green with envy shows exactly why PANA is seeking a No vote to the Treaty of Nice. It should be renegotiated so that a protocol is added to exclude Ireland from the European Army/Rapid Reaction Force.
An MRBI survey in May 1999 found that 57 per cent of the Irish people opposed the creation of a European army. The Irish people have had enough of empires - Greek, Roman, British or any other. The last thing we need is a new European Empire. - Yours, etc.,
Roger Cole, Chair, Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Blackrock, Co Dublin.