German Chancellor urges Yes vote on Lisbon Treaty

German Chancellor Angela Merkel tonight urged voters to accept the Lisbon Treaty.

On her first official visit to Ireland Ms Merkel told the National Forum On Europe the proposed reforms would mean the European Union would continue to flourish.

She said if ratified the Treaty would enable states to challenge major issues together with the weight of 500 million people behind them.

Dr Merkel also maintained a Yes vote by the Irish in the June 12 referendum could bring peace and stability in Europe.

More than 200 people, including diplomats and a range of political and campaign groups both for and against the Treaty, packed St Patrick’s Hall in the State Apartments at Dublin Castle for the event.

At the start of the Chancellor’s address, a poignant silence was held to reflect on the achievements of the late Dr Patrick Hillery, who became Ireland’s first European Commissioner in 1973.

Dr Hillery, who died on Saturday, will be honoured with a full state funeral on Wednesday.

Ms Merkel said Dr Hillery would be remembered as an Irish man who opened the door for Ireland.

“Allow me to express my very deep sympathies to his family and relatives,” she said.

It was during the German presidency of the EU last year that the plan to replace the failed EU constitution with the Lisbon Treaty was agreed.

Ireland is the only country in Europe to hold a vote on the Treaty.

Speaking in German, with her speech interpreted through earpieces, Ms Merkel said unification can only work if states share the same values.

“Europe means dealing with issues we can tackle together,” she continued.

“Successful challenges always start at home.”

Climate change, terrorism, organised crime and fair trading would be among the subjects dealt with together, she said.

The move would also be about citizens’ rights and human rights, she said, while strengthening the United Nations and bringing national parliaments closer together.

“National parliaments will be given the right to, at a very early stage, scrutinise any proposals coming from Brussels or Strasbourg,” she continued.

Ms Merkel said Ireland was a prime example of how economic and political developments and policies over the last 30 years have turned it into a success story.

She said people in Ireland worked hard to show everyone in Europe how far they could get on with political resolution.

However, she added that Germans were not envious of this success, but looked on Ireland as a yardstick.

Mr Merkel said when living in east Germany she could only dream of becoming part of the EU community.

“The creation of the EU was the best thing that has happened to Europe in its long history,” she added.

“In my mind the Lisbon Treaty offers the best preparation for Europe’s future. Let us all make sure that the EU continues to flourish.”

While Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton urged a yes vote, Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald criticised the Treaty and said she had grave concerns for Ireland, not least because it is a small state.

The Chancellor also came under fire from the Socialist Party’s Joe Higgins who claimed German people were not given a democratic right to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Libertas, the anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign group, accused the Government and Fine Gael of a U-turn on a policy of discouraging foreign leaders from visiting Ireland during the referendum campaign.

During her engagement in Dublin, the Chancellor also attended a special meeting of the European People’s Party, Europe’s biggest centre right political movement, which was hosted by its Irish section Fine Gael.

This morning, President Mary McAleese received Dr Merkel at Aras an Uachtarain, and later in the day met Mr Ahern.