The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has urged support for the Nice Treaty on the grounds that Ireland would benefit in terms of trade, prosperity and security.
EU enlargement was not just in the interest of the applicant countries, he told a Fianna Fail meeting in Dublin last night, it was in everyone's interest. It would be good for Europe and good for Ireland for democracy and stability to be underpinned and for prosperity to spread across the continent.
He said new opportunities for Irish trade and investment would open up and, while there would be new competition in some areas, it was only by competing successfully that we would continue to thrive as a country.
He said in accepting the concept of a rotation of commissioners, Ireland had successfully insisted upon the absolute equality of all member-states. Likewise, when it was agreed that majority decision-making would be extended into new areas, the issue of taxation was excluded.