Irish MEPs under threat

IRELAND will lose more MEPs if proposals being put forward by the head of the organisation debating the future of the European Union are accepted.

Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe, also wants the EU to have a full-time president, abolishing the present rotating system.

This change would mean a small country like Ireland, which holds the EU presidency next year, would be squeezed out as it would only be held by large countries. To gain a geographical balance in the power sharing, Mr Giscard d’Estaing wants a vice-president appointed.

The former French president wants the presidency to be held for two-and-a-half years and the role filled by a current or former head of state or government.

The Irish Government is staunchly opposed to the moves, along with all the other smaller countries.

Europe Minister Dick Roche said he was concerned by the reported comments of Mr Giscard d’Estaing as they go far beyond anything previously mooted and are not supported by a majority of countries.

He pointed out that some of the most successful EU presidencies have been hosted by smaller countries and that it would be better to merely strengthen the administration.

“If the proposals which are being discussed are his final set of proposals, I would suggest there will be a very lively debate. Countries will not be silent on this issue,” the minister said.

At present, Ireland has 15 MEPs, but this representation will be cut to 13 next year because of EU enlargement.

If the proposals on the European Parliament structure are accepted, the number of MEPs from smaller states would be limited further, well below 12 in Ireland’s case.

Currently there are 626 members of the European Parliament and, when enlargement is completed with 27 member-states, the number will rise to a maximum of 732. Mr Giscard d’Estaing wants a limit of 700.

This dilution of numbers would not be favourable to small states as it is suggested the new system would be more proportional in the distribution of seats. At existing levels, each German MEP represents some 829,000 people while every Irish MEP represents just 249,000.

The European Commission would also be slimmed down but given more power, and a new congress, including members of the European Parliament and national parliaments, would be set up, Mr Giscard d’Estaing proposes.

He also suggests an EU foreign minister and an office led by the new president to co-ordinate all EU activities.

The convention is trying to decide how the EU will function when it expands next year from 15 to 25 members and beyond. The year-long discussions aim to simplify the treaties and decide a balance of power between Brussels and the governments.

The convention meets again in Brussels today and is due to present a draft constitutional treaty to a European summit in Greece on June 21.

Smaller member states will oppose the proposals as it could swing power too far towards the larger countries.