Nice Yes vote still leaves obstacles ahead on road to EU enlargement

THE European Union, cheered by Ireland's weekend approval of a treaty on EU enlargement, braced for battle yesterday over the costs of admitting the 10, mostly impoverished ex-communist countries waiting to join.

The Nice Treaty was backed by a margin of 63% to 37% in Saturday's referendum, removing a key hurdle to enlargement.

“The Irish vote has removed one stone from the road and has increased expectations that other problems will be solved also,” Denmark's Minister for European Affairs Bertel Haarder said. But the euphoria triggered by the result faded quickly as the EU turned its attention to money matters. “We have quite a task ahead of us. I'm expecting very tough negotiations,” said Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The Irish acceptance of Nice was