Treaty must be passed, says Danish leader

REJECTING the Nice Treaty will cause an unprecedented crisis in the European Union, the leader of the nation which holds the Union’s presidency said yesterday.

Speaking in Dublin, Danish Prime Minister Anders-Fogh Rasmussen said approval of the treaty was essential if enlargement of the EU was to be carried out on schedule. Otherwise, the process will be thrown into an unprecedented crisis, he said.

Following a meeting with the Taoiseach ahead of next weekend’s EU Summit, Mr Rasmussen said he recognised Ireland’s right to make a decision on Nice but it was a historic moment.