Ireland will listen to EU applicants, says forum chair

The chairman of the National Forum on Europe says it will continue to listen to countries waiting to gain entry to the European Union.

Senator Maurice Hayes was addressing the Irish Hungarian Economic Association in Dublin.

The comment came as the Taoiseach entered talks with the Prime Ministers of Finland and Sweden, aimed at agreeing the wording of a declaration on neutrality.

Mr Ahern is initially seeking support from other neutral countries on the amendment to the Nice Treaty before it’s put to EU leaders at a summit in Seville next week.