Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The enlargement of the European Union to include countries of central and eastern Europe is of historic importance. In Ireland, we are in a privileged position to have a direct say on the process. It is a daunting prospect to have the eyes of 500 million Europeans upon us. Whether the Nice treaty is adopted hinges exclusively on the decision of the Irish people in the forthcoming referendum. There are no parallels for such a responsibility in our history, with the possible exception of the Good Friday Agreement. When the people overwhelmingly voted "Yes" to that agreement, they were voting "Yes" to peace on this island; respect for different traditions and the possibility that one day – and by consent – the two jurisdictions on this island could be united.

Enlargement is about reunification. It is about bringing together two halves of a continent divided for a half century in the aftermath of the Second World War and by the merciless and cruel tyranny of communism. The Nice treaty is about paving the way for this enlargement. It is about creating a set of workable institutions and procedures for a European Union of 27 member states, as opposed to the original six or current 15. The advocates of a "No" vote say this is not so. They say the Nice treaty has nothing to do with enlargement. The Intergovernmental Conference that led to the drafting of the treaty was convened with the sole purpose and clear mandate of preparation for enlargement.

When the Heads of 15 Governments sat around the table until 4 a.m. at Nice in December 2000, they had many disagreements, but there was one item on which everybody agreed – that they were all present to draft a treaty to enable the European Union to enlarge smoothly and successfully, yet the No to Nice Campaign tries to persuade us that the Nice treaty has nothing to do with enlargement. Twelve applicant states were also present at the negotiations. They, too, shared the belief that work was in hand for the preparation of their own entry into the European Union. They still hold that belief. The people of Poland, Hungary and Lithuania are all firmly convinced that their future hangs on the adoption of the Nice treaty.