Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 March 2003

Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.

 

The Deputy's speech often touched on how we make the European Union acceptable to people in all member states. We can consider dumbing-down, making it more simple, printing posters and so on but it is clearly more fundamental than this. How does the Deputy think we can enthuse the electorate time and again, as we had to do for the second referendum on the Treaty of Nice? Collectively and individually, we made a mistake in our approach to the first referendum. We learned the lesson and went out and enthused people but I do not know if we can continue to do this. How can we make it simpler, more understandable and imbue it with a passion? There must be a passion for the European project because, if there is not, it will ultimately fail. There will be challenges and difficult decisions for countries and their citizens to address. However, some small changes have already been accepted without much fuss such as the provision for reduced numbers of MEPs and other provisions deriving from the Treaty of Nice. How will we continue to inject passion, interest and voting strength into all matters European, while remaining in touch with our own sense of nationality? How do we fundamentally reconcile European and national priorities?

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