US: The enlargement of the EU to 25 member-states was good "not only for the EU but also for the US and all who support the rights of people to live in peace, security and freedom," the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday in an article in the Wall Street Journal.
The United States had played a crucial part in the transformation of the EU "through its firm support for the liberty and unity of Europe over the past six decades". The expansion of the EU had now removed many potential elements of political uncertainty and insecurity from a large part of Europe.
The enlargement was "an event to be celebrated wherever freedom, democracy and opportunity for all are values to be cherished." Nowhere was this more the case than in the US, he added. "The peoples of the US and of Europe share a common set of values based on an unshakable commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It is these shared values that make us enduring partners."
The US and the EU accounted for a fifth of each other's bilateral trade, he pointed out. "We are each other's economic partner of choice, and this EU enlargement will increase opportunities for both sides."