We won't lose right to commissioner until 2010

IRELAND will not lose its automatic right to an EU Commissioner until 2010 at the earliest, a study published yesterday says.

The study notes that by now 25 out of 26 mainstream European States have accepted the Nice Treaty, which is expected to go before Irish voters in a controversial second referendum in mid-October.

The study, Preparing the Union for Enlargement, has been compiled by Tony Brown, a former director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and long-time Labour Party activist. It was launched yesterday along with a second short booklet, Institutional Change: The Effect on Small States by Thomas Legge, a Brussels-based Irish academic.

Both books argue that on balance Ireland gets a good deal from Nice, given the balance to be struck when other countries’ interests are taken into account. They conclude that the deal is weighted to serve the interests of smaller States. Mr Brown argues, however, that the treaty also represents the biggest EU change for Ireland since the country joined in 1973. The move to enlarge to an EU of 27 States brings an urgent need for Irish people to see their involvement beyond farming, regional funds and business interests. On the prospect of all member States giving up their automatic right to a member of the policy-guiding commission, Mr Brown says the Nice deal stipulates that this will not occur until the EU reaches 27 member States. That is not expected before 2010 at earliest, and possibly not until 2014, and thereafter a fair rotation arrangement must be unanimously agreed.

The booklets are available for 5 each from the Institute of European Affairs, 8 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1. web: www.iiea.com