Europe breathes sigh of relief

Europe Correspondent

Commission President Romano Prodi said the Irish people had reaffirmed their position as strong supporters of the European ideals: "I am extremely happy that the Irish have voted Yes to such a great extent beyond expectations. I am happy because the Irish have demonstrated that when it comes to the hour of truth they are committed to Europe.

"Since Ireland came into the Union they have been strong, co-operative and loyal and so I am very happy that, with this referendum, we can go hand in hand to work for enlargement," Mr Prodi said last night after the final referendum result was officially announced.

The Irish people were congratulated on the result that completely reversed the first referendum 16 months ago and that threatened to at least delay enlargement and at worse to derail it.

The Yes vote was referred to as a momentous decision by the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana: "We stand on the threshold of a new Europe. The road which has brought us here has not been easy. It has required a firm belief in a new Europe, united by common values and a common purpose.

"The result of the referendum is an expression of that belief. Therefore, I am delighted by the overwhelming positive vote of the Irish people."

Their were expressions of thanks and congratulations from the leaders of the 10 countries expecting to join the EU in January, 2004, and Irish pubs in a number of them announced they were giving a free drink to customers.

Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller referring to a folk song popular in Poland said: "Tonight I can drink a glass of Guinness and sing 'I love you like Ireland'."

The outspoken President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, was also very pleased. He thanked the Irish for putting aside their domestic political concerns and not allowing them to "overshadow the big idea that is EU enlargement which will overcome the rift that divides our continent."

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said in a statement: "I welcome the positive result of the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty.

"The people of Ireland were aware of their great responsibility to Europe. This decision opens the way for the enlargement of the European Union."

The president of the European Parliament, Munster MEP Pat Cox, said that the result gave "the clearest possible signal that Europe's rendezvous with history cannot be further delayed or postponed."

The heads of the 15 EU governments will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to clear the way for the final decisions on enlargement involving funding for the new members. They are expected officially to invite the ten candidate countries to join at the Copenhagen summit in mid-December.