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News Archive 2004

14/01/2004
Irish Presidency Must Reconsider EU Constitution

The Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, today announced the programme and priorities for the Irish Presidency to the European Parliament. Mr Ahern emphasised the importance they are attaching to the EU Constitution.

The Irish Presidency is determined to make further progress on the Constitution in order to have the proposals ready for the March EU Council. Mr Ahern said that any delay would damage credibility and weaken standing, and maintained that the Constitution is their highest priority.

Speaking in the debate, Jonathan Evans MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, said: "The draft Constitution is moving the EU in the wrong direction. The aspirations of the Laeken Summit two years ago, when Heads of Government expressed the hope that the Constitution would bring the Union closer to its citizens, have singularly failed to materialise.

"Grandiose constitutional schemes are no substitute for tackling the real problems facing our peoples. The Irish Presidency should use the coming months to think afresh about the need for this or any Constitution."

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