Madam, - Denis Staunton, in his article "EU leaders fail to break impasse on reform" (The Irish Times, October 17th), mentions Poland as one of the countries whose position on the institutional reforms could make it more difficult to reach a compromise during the Intergovernmental Conference launched on October 4th, 2003. Let me clarify Poland's position on a few important issues discussed by the IGC.
The treaty establishing the constitution of Europe will be a fundamental document of utmost importance for the future of European integration, as it is meant to design our common future with imagination and determination. The Convention on the Future of Europe produced a good draft treaty which constitutes the basis for the work of the IGC. Poland will seek to play a constructive role at the IGC, as we remain broadly happy with the outcome of the convention, although we agree with Mr Brian Cowen that "the IGC cannot be a rubber stamp and we, like others, have a small number of key concerns which we will be pressing".
Like Ireland, at the Foreign Ministers' meeting in Rome we agreed to drop the proposed provision for a separate legislative council, which was regarded as impractical. We have no reservations about the other issues that are to be discussed at the IGC. We would only like to add to this list a discussion on the reference to the traditions of Christianity to be included in the preamble.
The fundamental issue for Poland, however, is the voting system agreed at Nice two-and-a-half years ago as a result of a compromise reached after tough negotiations.
A fair and effective decision-making system was worked out; it guarantees the right balance between small, medium-sized and large member-states and contributes to enhancing European cohesion and solidarity. This system has never been tested, as the voting arrangements will come into force on November 1st, 2004.
Poland does not want to undermine the Nice arrangements and sees no grounds for rejecting the system which was accepted by the EU countries as the right measure to ensure smooth accession of new member-states. Why revoke Nice? It is not necessary to regard voting power and the size of population as two sides of the same coin. There is no tradition in the international system to take into consideration the size of population while casting a vote.
Poland wants to play an important role in the EU. It is our ambition to be, from the day of our accession, a part of an effective European Union which would be a powerful political, economic and social actor in global affairs. I have no doubt that such a Union is within our reach if only we are courageous enough to ensure that the principle of equality and solidarity is reflected in all the areas of the EU activity. - Yours, etc.,
WITOLD SOBKÓW,
Polish Ambassador,
Dublin.