The European Commission in Ireland today urged for "yes" vote in the next Nice referendum so other countries could enjoy the economic benefits of EU membership as Ireland had.
The Director of European Commission representation in Ireland, Mr Peter Doyle, said a "yes" to the Nice Treaty would give due recognition to the European Union’s support to Ireland’s development over the last 30 years.
Speaking at a reception to mark the 30th anniversary of the referendum approving Ireland’s entry into the European Commission, Mr Doyle said a "yes" vote would also enable other Central and Eastern Europe countries share in Ireland’s good fortune as an EU member.
Mr Doyle outlined Ireland’s economic growth from 1973 when GDP was less than 60 per cent of the European average to the present where GDP is about 120 per cent of the European average.
The turning point in the Republic’s economy came with the single market in 1992, he said.
"The virtual completion of the single market has brought about an unprecedentted degree of liberalisation of the Irish economy, providing greater choice for consumers, as well as keeping the lid on price increases because of greater competition between suppliers."
The EMU has also helped create a stable macroeconomic environment, Mr Doyle said.
Attributing the lack of information, the perceived threat to neutrality and fears over Ireland’s democratic input into EU decisions, resulted in the "no" vote in first Nice referendum, Mr Doyle said.
However he assured people the Commission and other member states had taken Ireland’s concerns seriously and had done what they could to ease them.
Therefore, he said: "It is the sincere hope of Ireland’s existing partners in the EU, as well as the 13 candidate countries, the Commission and the European Parliament, that when a second referendum is held in the autumn the answer will be a resounding yes."
On May 10th 1972, Ireland’s European Community membership was approved in a referendum that saw 83.1 per cent of the 70.9 per cent turnout vote in favour of joining the EC. In January 1973 Ireland along with Denmark and the UK became an official member of the EC.