Future admission to the EU will be on a one-by-one basis, agree leaders

THERE will be no more big bang enlargements of the European Union and in future countries will be admitted one-by-one, EU leaders have agreed.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ruled out holding a referendum to ask the Irish people to agree to a new country joining the bloc in future.

The head of the 25 EU countries tightened the rules on membership in an effort to dampen down the fierce controversy surrounding enlargement in many EU countries, and especially about Turkey’s candidacy.