Enlargement of the European Union was recognised as "an opportunity of great political and historical importance", according to a former secretary-general of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a pamphlet entitled Enlargement: Europe Past, Present and Future, Mr Andrew O'Rourke argued that member-states could not contemplate an enlarged EU without substantial reforms to facilitate its effective functioning. "The reforms, agreed by the member-state governments at Nice, are considered by them sufficient - and essential - for enlargement."
Mr O'Rourke, a former Irish ambassador to the EU, stated: "The candidate countries have warmly welcomed the fact that agreement was reached at Nice to make the necessary changes in the institutions to prepare the Union for enlargement."
The pamphlet is one of a series on "Ireland and Europe" launched in Dublin yesterday by the Institute of European Affairs (IEA).
In Enlargement: An Economic Assessment, Mr Peter Brennan said that it should be a "win, win situation" for existing member states and candidate countries. "The biggest economic prize offered by enlargement is a new single market consisting of nearly 500 million consumers. All the states participating in this market will have to respect the same regulatory principles, take account of the euro and negotiate on the global stage as a single trading entity. The developments will boost business confidence and add to overall investment.
"From a business perspective, enlargement could hardly be coming at a better time. It will help offset the uncertainties created by the events of September 11th and counter the effects of global economic slow-down. It will provide a regulatory and legal framework for doing business in 25 different countries and provide a stable macro-economic environment in which to make investment decisions. Allied to the advantages of a single currency, which most of these countries will use, this is the best possible business scenario."
Asked what would happen if the Nice Treaty was rejected for a second time, Mr Joe Brosnan, director-general of the IEA, said "nobody has a clear answer to that", but it would precipitate a crisis for the enlargement process and for Ireland's relationship with the EU.
The IEA is committed to providing "a permanent forum for the identification and development of Irish strategic policy responses to the continuing process of European integration and to the wider international issues which impact on Europe". It receives financial support from a wide range of semi-State and private companies, including Aer Lingus, Aer Rianta, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Guinness, Independent Newspapers, RTÉ, Siemens, The Irish Times, Ulster Bank, VHI and Waterford Crystal.