Ahern calls for greater cohesion of EU states

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday called for a greater engagement of all EU and accession states in advance of talks between EU foreign ministers next week.

Speaking in Prague, where he delivered a keynote speech to the Czech Senate yesterday, Mr Ahern said it was crucial all EU states agreed an EU constitution in order for Europe to adapt to the challenges faced by new threats such as terrorism from non-state 'actors'.

"The EU must continue to adapt, change and react in a creative way to the new circumstances in which it finds itself and work towards a system that is responsive to the realities which we face," he said.