Cox misses out on EU post
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had put Mr Cox forward as a member of the committee, but had not suggested him as a candidate to head up the group. Despite early indications that several leaders supported Mr Cox for the job, it eventually went to the 65-year-old former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez.
Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal group in the European Parliament to which Mr Cox belonged, immediately described him and his two vice-chairmen as being like dinosaurs from Jurassic Park.
The leaders watered down the role of the group, asking it to report in 2010 on the challenges facing the EU in 2020-2030. However, once the “wise people” were selected, a row broke out as to what exactly they would study. French President Nicholas Sarkozy insisted they would consider where the borders of the EU should end and whether Turkey should be included.
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the mandate did not include this. Mr Gonzalez is on record as opposing Turkey’s membership of the EU.
The Taoiseach was more concerned to ensure it did not begin any deliberations until the Irish referendum was out of the way and said the work of putting together a committee would not be finished until the middle of next year.
