Seanad debates
Tuesday, 10 June 2003
Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.
I take the point that adjustments may need to be made in regard to the Treaty of Nice. However, in terms of the referendum that would be required for us to adopt the new treaty, it would be totally unhelpful to unpick that treaty because it could lead to serious problems with regard to the adoption of the final draft. It is important that the treaties be simplified. Those of us who were involved in the discussions on the Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties got weary with the cross-referencing to sections of earlier treaties. It reached the point where we were referring to three or four pieces of paper to find out what was being said. This matter is important from the point of view of being open. In order to connect with the population of the Union, it is important that these things are simplified and that people can actually read them.
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