Cox calls on Irish electorate to accept Nice

The President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, said today he hoped Ireland would vote later this year to approve the Nice…

The President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, said today he hoped Ireland would vote later this year to approve the Nice Treaty.

"I would hope that the renewed determination by the Irish government to actively and determinably campaign thus the result of last year may be reversed," Mr Cox, the first Irish president of the Parliament, said during a visit Copenhagen. "I hope that we can produce a positive outcome."

He also called on Ireland to "reflect on all the consequences of maintaining the vote of last year, the consequences for Ireland, the consequences for the European Union and the consequences for the enlargement."

No date has been announced for a second Nice Treaty referendum in Ireland but it is expected in October at the earliest.