Sir, - The letter from the Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network (May 22nd), echoing contributions from AfrI and other groups, hinges upon two crucial misconceptions about the development of the EU's military capacity.
The first is that rejection of the Nice Treaty would in some way halt or frustrate that development. It wouldn't and couldn't, because the decisions on which the Rapid Reaction Force are based have been taken under the Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties already ratified and in place. The Nice treaty itself adds nothing of substance to what is already agreed and being developed. If the Nice treaty were abandoned tomorrow, this would have no significant implications for the development of the EU's military capacity.
The second misconception relates to a so-called "Danish" protocol to the treaty. An Irish withdrawal from the EU's Rapid Reaction Force requires no protocol, no treaty change, no particular referendum result. A simple decision of the Government is all that is required. It needs only to declare that Ireland will not participate in the EU force and to withdraw its contribution to that force.
Already, the Government has limited its participation to those operations operating within a UN mandate. It is entirely up to the Government to further limit or to exclude participation in the force - either across the board or on a case by case basis.
Hence it is pointless to advocate a No vote on Nice to oppose the development of the EU Rapid Reaction Force. That would be the political equivalent of hostage taking - holding EU enlargement hostage against the Government's decision to participate in the Rapid Reaction Force. Either that, or it would be the worst kind of gesture politics - delaying or preventing EU enlargement so that we, as an electorate, can strike a pose against our own Government.
For many sound and sane reasons one can argue against the development of a military capacity for the EU. Similarly, many reasonable arguments may be made for a more robust Irish foreign policy grounded in military neutrality. However, the Nice treaty is simply the wrong target for this debate. Irish politicians and policymakers have chosen - for equally sane, reasonable and sound reasons - to participate in the development of a military capacity for the EU. If the electorate wishes to register its opposition to that choice, there are many more appropriate opportunities - elections being just the most obvious! - Yours, etc.,
Dr Ben Tonra, Deputy Director, Dublin European Institute, UCD, Dublin 4.