European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said yesterday an Irish vote in favour of the EU reform treaty was very important for Europe and for Irish interests, writes Jamie Smythin Lisbon
He pledged to visit Ireland before a referendum on the treaty, which will streamline EU decision-making and set policy priorities.
"I think this treaty gives more effectiveness to Europe. I believe that is very much to Irish interests," Mr Barroso told The Irish Times after EU leaders reached agreement on the final text of the treaty.
The treaty must now be ratified by all 27 member states, although only the Republic is likely to hold a referendum. The vast majority of EU leaders insisted yesterday that they would ratify the treaty in their parliaments, a decision that reduces the risk that a No vote could provoke a new crisis in the EU.
When asked about the consequences of a No vote in Ireland, Mr Barroso said he never anticipated negative scenarios.
"From a European point of view it is very important. I will trust in our confidence in the Irish people. The Irish people are one of those that most support European integration and so I hope the vote is positive but of course it is up to the Irish people to decide," said Mr Barroso, who last visited the Republic in October 2004.
A firm date for the Irish referendum has not been set but Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said his preference was for May/June. However, he said this was complicated by his wish to hold a vote on the rights of the child on the same day.
Mr Ahern also recommended a Yes vote on the reform treaty, which he said would show Europe that Irish people cared about the key issues facing the EU.
"[ It is] a vote for climate change, a vote for environmental policies, a vote for the Common Agricultural Policy, a vote for social Europe, that is a vote for the reform treaty," said Mr Ahern, who warned of the danger of Eurosceptics targeting the Republic in their campaign to force other EU states to hold votes.
"I think that we can't take anything for granted. We saw in the "Nice One" referendum [ and all] the money that went into it. There were probably more posters around in "Nice One" than there were at the last general election," said Mr Ahern, who did nothing to dampen speculation that he would like one of the plum EU jobs that will be created when the treaty is scheduled to come into force in January 2009.
"I'm glad. . . that position is still there. It would be an interesting job," said Mr Ahern, when asked about speculation linking him to the new position of president of the European Council.