Ambassador Bruton:

What I said is that we should not be neurotic about the fact that we have difficulty with enlargement. Neither should we be neurotic about the fact that public opinion in some European countries is hostile to further enlargement. It is perfectly understandable that such sentiments would arise. That does not mean they are right but it is understandable and we should not allow other people to criticise us because, having undertaken such an enormous project, we are slightly tired before we make the next step forward. Part of Turkey is geographically in Europe — Eastern Thrace. For years we have said to Turkey that it is potentially a candidate to join the European Union. We may have said it without complete internal acceptance or thinking it would never happen, but we did say it and that is a prospect we must face.

Ambassador Bruton:

I believe it also will be an issue for Turkey. It is a country with a sense of separate nationality that is much stronger than most European countries, which see themselves as separate nations but also as part of Europe and are prepared to accept being outvoted by a majority of Europeans — not with great grace but they will accept it. I do not know if Turks would be willing to see Turkey outvoted on anything by a majority in Europe. They will have to change some of the ways they view the role of Turkey in Europe for them to be prepared to make the decision.

Ambassador Bruton:

Significant debates will also have to take place in Europe and, as Members are aware, the French constitution has been altered to the effect that there must be a referendum on every enlargement beyond Croatia. That will apply equally to the Balkans and Turkey. We can look forward to a strong debate in that regard. At this stage I do not believe we should set any geographic limit to the enlargement of the EU, other than that a country must be part of Europe, because it is impossible for one generation to know how a future generation might perceive a problem. If one had asked people to set the boundaries of Europe 30 years ago they would probably have given a different answer to the one people would give now or might give 30 years from now. We should not write into the constitution a limit or anything of that nature.

Ambassador Bruton:

I indirectly represented this House in the Convention on the Future of Europe which drew up the constitution. If an enlarged Europe is to work there must be more majority voting. The idea that we can have vetoes on all sorts of things is not viable with a Union of 27 or 28 members. Nothing would happen if everybody had a veto. The US Senate could not operate if everybody had a veto. The United Nations is not as effective as it should be because it has too many vetoes. It is so difficult to get world trade deals through because everybody has a veto. If we want to have effective international co-operation we must accept qualified majority votes, such as two-thirds majorities or four-fifths majorities, but not complete unanimity.

Ambassador Bruton:

One of the criticisms I might make of the constitution is it does not provide enough variable types of majority. It has one type of majority or unanimity. On certain issues, more than 66% of voting strength majority but not unanimity may be appropriate. A little creativity could be applied.

Ambassador Bruton:

Ireland must consider the size of the Commission. The Irish Government Cabinet comprises 15 members and that is as big a group of people that can be managed cohesively. It is being done so more than adequately at present. A Commission of 27 will prove difficult. However, every State must be treated equally. One cannot treat Malta differently to France in principle.

Ambassador Bruton:

How can those two concepts be merged? Perhaps we should have one section of ten Commissioners selected in equal rotation among member states along with three or four others selected by the President from countries not represented in the rotation. That might enable bigger and smaller states to blend on a basis acceptable to everybody. Creative thinking is required to ensure the EU continues to be decisive in the face of difficulties.

Ambassador Bruton:

It is also important to state politics is an inherently messy business. Political decision-making always takes longer than it should. Efficiency is not consistent with pure democracy. It is good to reach a decision. We should not become purists.