“The EU Reform Treaty is vital for Europe and for Ireland” says Roche.

Press Release

“The EU Reform Treaty is vital for Europe and for Ireland” says Roche.

While speaking in the Dáil Debate on the European Reform Treaty Minister for European Affairs, Dick Roche T.D. pointed out that the Reform Treaty will provide the Union with a new basis on which to operate.

Minister Roche pointed out that the Reform Treaty is vital to Europe’s future development and will

-bring an end to the lengthy debate on Institutional Reform

-strengthen the democratic character of the Union

-enhance the role of the European Parliament and National Parliaments

-introduce new voting arrangements which will facilitate good decision making and will bring about

institutional changes such as the creation of a President of the European Council and the creation of an EU

High Representative in foreign affairs.

-it will help to give Europe a clearer voice and also provide the basis to achieve progress on issues which are

important to all the people of Europe

The Treaty will also give legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights for the first time and will better equip the member states of the Union through the changes which are being introduced on Justice and Home Affairs to combat international crime.

Minster Roche said he was particularly happy with the political declaration being made by Ireland. “This highlights our intention to participate in European efforts to combat cross-border crime to the maximum extent”. This allied to our strong endorsement of the Charter on Fundamental Rights sends an important political signal to our European partners”

Ends

16^th October 2007