Nice has no exemption from EU defence policy, say PANA

The Government is being accused of failing to secure a legally binding protocol over our military arrangements.

After an already shattering poll on the Nice Treaty, more challenges are being made to the Fianna Fail-led government.

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance say that the Nice Treaty does not exempt us from joining a common European defence policy.

A spokesperson for PANA maintains that a mere declaration actually is not worth the paper it is written on.

He says that a declaration is not legally binding but that a protocol is. PANA argue that the Danish government have a protocol.

The anti-Nice campaigners are now calling on the Taoiseach to explain why Ireland does not have a protocol as well.