EU Constitution ‘the right choice for Ireland’

THE European Constitution was the right choice for Europe and for Ireland, Bertie Ahern has stressed.

The Taoiseach accepted the EU was “far from perfect” but reiterated his view that because of its existence, “there is no part of the world in which we could be more fortunate to live”.

In a keynote speech at Dublin City Hall to mark Europe Day, which is being celebrated today, he last night stressed the importance of the constitution and warned of the implications if it were to be rejected.

The treaty has been put on indefinite hold to allow for a period of reflection following its rejections in plebiscites in France and the Netherlands last year.

“There is nothing automatic about the Europe we have built for ourselves over the last generation. There is nothing inevitable about the Union’s future. It falls to us now to make choices about our future. We should not underestimate the human potential to make the wrong choices,” he said.

Mr Ahern said the constitution was a tidying-up exercise (combining existing treaties) and a step of major importance for Europe. He dismissed suggestions it was moving Europe toward political integration.

“It preserves and clarifies the balance between what should be decided at European level and what should be decided at national level. It maintains the broad equilibrium between Member States. It confirms the necessary balance between the Union’s institutions.”

He also said it was necessary to allow the potential of Europe to be realised.

He said that without the Constitution the EU may go into decline and wise choices needed to be made.

He referred to a report from Senator Maurice Hayes, the chairman of the National Forum on Europe, which he said had done an enormous amount of good work in promoting active citizenship on Europe.

In the report, Mr Hayes said that the sense he had taken from the debate in the European Parliament in September 2005 (soon after the period of reflection had begun) was that it was “simply too soon” to come to any definitive position on the constitution’s future.

“I came away with the view that no decision on the next steps for the European Constitution will be made until the meeting of the European Council in June 2006, at the earliest.”

A cultural street party takes place today on Dublin’s South King Street (at the top of Grafton Street) from 11.45am-2.30pm. The Dublin Gospel Choir will perform live.

The EU bus will travel through Dublin between 11am-2pm, stopping at St Stephen’s Green, the IFSC, Merrion Square and Middle Abbey Street.

A classical music concert starts at 1.10pm at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Admission is free.

Café d’Europe kicks off in Bewley’s at 11am.