Prodi should get Ahern broadside

IF sparks fail to fly when EU commissioners gather for today’s major convention on Ireland’s six-month presidency of the European club, then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be falling down on the job.

The scene is set for an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between Mr Ahern and commission president Romano Prodi, whose claim that a “two-speed Europe” unless there is agreement this year on an EU constitution, has deepened divisions between member States.

Such an unwarranted intrusion into the political arena by a civil servant is unacceptable and the Taoiseach must leave no doubt about this in Mr Prodi’s mind.

But the issue goes beyond that, to the very heart of debate raging between the smaller and bigger nations of the EU.

Backing the Prodi line, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has reiterated the vision of a two-tier Europe where a core group would forge ahead, leaving other countries behind unless there is agreement in 2004 on the controversial proposal to weight votes according to the relative population size of member States in the European Council.

If, as widely rumoured, Commissioner Prodi is launching his own campaign for the forthcoming Italian presidential race, then he should be compelled to step down for such a cynical abuse of office.

Whatever his motive, the reality is that the battle lines are drawn between the major powers and the smaller States of Europe. As evidenced by Germany’s long running support for the two-tier concept, Mr Prodi has thrown open the door wide for the bigger nations to push their own agendas to the detriment of smaller EU States such as Ireland.

There is a bitter irony in the fact that deep wedges are now being driven between nations months before Europe’s enlargement by 10 new members, effectively creating a 25-country power bloc.

Thanks to the naked ambitions of the Franco-German axis, serious cracks are emerging in Europe’s facade of unity. Not only are some countries willing to trample on the voting rights of smaller neighbours but, by attacking the very principle of equality which has imbued the EU with a sense of cohesion, they are also undermining Europe as a power to be reckoned with, thereby advancing America’s relentless pursuit of global dominance.

Merely rapping Commissioner Prodi over the knuckles, by saying his suggestion was “unhelpful,” has fallen far short of the resounding broadside Mr Ahern should deliver on behalf of smaller nations at today’s meeting in Dublin Castle.

With 10 Mediterranean and Eastern European countries set to join the EU in May, the opening session could be the first real test of Ireland’s ability to break the constitution deadlock left after talks collapsed under Italy’s EU presidency.

While the constitutional issue may be something of a poisoned chalice, the Taoiseach can hardly do worse than his counterpart, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi whose spell in charge was marred by diplomatic gaffes.

In contrast with Mr Berlusconi’s negotiating style, the Taoiseach is regarded as a safe pair of hands. But unless he is prepared to show his fist, Ireland will be left behind in a two-speed Europe.