The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, received an enthusiastic response from ministers, officials, business figures and students in Budapest yesterday when he voiced strong support for early Hungarian entry to the European Union and outlined Ireland's positive experience of membership. His visit is intended to express Ireland's commitment to enlargement. As he put it, the EU is not an exclusive club. Some countries are virtually ready to join and should be allowed to do so as quickly as possible. The accession negotiations are unlikely to be completed for another couple of years, however, and Mr Ahern felt he could not agree to the Hungarian demand that a January 1st 2002 deadline be set. But he did say that the forthcoming InterGovernmental Conference should not be expanded in scope in such a way as to delay accession unduly much beyond that date. That is a clear signal of his goodwill, since it would involve a partial enlargement before the really ambitious issues on the EU's constitutional agenda are tackled.
Friends made now among the accession states may become abiding allies in a larger and diverse Union in the years to come. Historically and politically there are many points of similarity between the two countries. Arthur Griffith's use of the Austro-Hungarian arrangement as a model for Ireland is well known. After Hungary was partitioned following the first World War large Hungarian minorities in Romania and Czechoslovakia created political cleavages that still affect its relations with neighbouring states, some of which bear comparison with Ireland's divisions. When to these are added the need for Hungary to affirm its identity in a larger European setting in order to escape domination by larger powers the parallel with Ireland is brought closer, as Mr Ahern pointed out. As comparatively small states there is a common interest in seeing that achieved without unbalancing the institutional setting of the EU that reinforces it. That will be an abiding bond between the two states in years to come. Hungary is also seeking to develop its economy through foreign direct investment and export led growth - on both of which it can learn from Ireland. Many of the same points apply to Slovenia, where Mr Ahern will be meeting political and economic leaders today. It has only recently emerged from the shadow and conflicts of ex-Yugoslavia, in which it was for many years the most prosperous state. For centuries before that it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Slovenians are quick to draw the parallels with Ireland. It is good to see them being reciprocated officially by the Taoiseach's visit and it is to be hoped this will lead to an intensification of contacts. Mr Ahern goes on to visit Irish troops and other Irish people serving in Kosovo, to inspect Kfor forces serving under NATO command and to find out more about the Council of Europe commitments to oversee the restoration of civil administration there as Ireland takes over its six-month presidency this week. It is a reminder of how the war there has drawn all European states into the task of rebuilding its society.