MARTIN TUOHY,
Madam, - Dan O'Brien's call for the Government (Opinion, February 10th) to be more proactive in influencing European policy could not have been more timely.
The drafting over the coming months of the new European constitution and, more importantly, decision-making structures, is of profound importance to the future of Europe. It is critical to play an active role in influencing these discussions and not to sit back and wait for choices to be dictated by others.
The French and German governments have been active for the past three months in putting forward their own agenda, culminating in their joint proposal to the Convention published some weeks ago. A number of their proposals certainly go in the right direction towards more transparent and accountable decision making, e.g. that the President of the Commission be elected by the European Parliament. Others, such as appointing a Council President for a five-year term, might be seen to favour the possibility of the president coming from either the French or the Germans themselves and thus, to perpetuate the political horse-trading approach to decision-making.
Does the Government have a process or timetable in mind to put forward its policy ideas and to engage the electorate in helping shape its proposals to the Convention? Is it in discussions with other smaller-nation governments to create any counterweight proposals to balance the Franco-German approach? I second Mr O'Brien's call for the Government to get more positively involved in shaping Europe's future and to inform and involve the Irish electorate in this process as well. - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN TUOHY, Rue du Colonel Moll, Paris, France.