The Irish no vote in the Nice Treaty referendum sent a clear message to Brussels that changes have to be made in the decision-making process to address the concerns of ordinary citizens, the Minister of Finance of one of the countries seeking accession to the EU said yesterday.

Speaking before the first visit of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Dublin, Mr Takis Klerides said: "Although it was only from a percentage of the Irish people, it was a very clear message to Brussels and to the decision-makers on European policy that they have to do something in order to change the attitude and feelings and concerns of member citizens."

Mr Klerides said that the initial reaction of Cypriots to the Irish referendum was one of disappointment.

"But I don't think the referendum as we have heard from politicians in Ireland and Europe is a rejection of enlargement. It's a rejection, I believe, of certain things that the European Union is not providing to the people of Europe," he said.

But he said he understood that the process of enlargement was irreversible.

"It's not fair for the candidate countries who are investing tremendous amounts of money and energy in order to harmonise their legislation and comply with the rules that have been laid down by the fifteen countries in order to become members of the union for the EU to change its mind and say it is not interested in enlargement," said Mr Klerides.