Forum for Europe to be addressed by Taoiseach

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to address the final Forum for Europe today.

Bertie Ahern is expected to tell the forum that it would be wrong for Ireland to block progress on EU enlargement.

Following today’s meeting the Taoiseach will travel to Lacken in Belgium where he will meet the other EU leaders for a summit to discuss the future of Europe.

Mr Ahern is expected to insist the Nice Treaty is necessary for enlargement and to say that it would be wrong for Ireland to block other countries joining the EU.

On sovereignty, Mr Ahern will say that EU sovereignty is shared when it is in our own interest, using the single market and Euro as examples of successfully sharing sovereignty.