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Irish no to Nice Treaty ratification setback for EU Enlargement
Amsterdam, june 10, 2001. The "No" to the Nice Treaty in a referendum on june 8 in Ireland is a setback for the enlargement with Eastern European nations of the Union.
Although the turnout was low, only 34.8%, most European politicians said they respected the outcome, but declined any change in the substance of the Nice Treaty.
The EU Swedish president and the Commission President Prodi declared in a joined statement that they would help the Irish government in every possible way to ratify the treaty before 2002,
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without changing the substance of the Nice treaty."
The Irish Times reports that Prime Minister Ahern is discussing a new referendum on the same subject.
However, prominent No campaigners rejected the idea of another poll, they described such a suggestion as "shameful".
EP member for the Christian Democratic Coalition declared that "EU Enlargement can't be delayed and jeopardised".
He declared that "it has now become clear that it is urgently necessary to consider a new, transparent and democratic procedure for the reform of the European Union. "
Pat COX MEP, Leader of the European Liberal Democrat (ELDR) Group in the European Parliament, declared in reaction to the referendum that: "It is important to reassure candidate states that this was not a "no" to their entry into the EU, although it has the potential to complicate the process. This should not be contemplated. This Irish vote reflects a rather mixed and complex set of motives none of which sought to reject enlargement."
All Member States have to ratify the Treaty of Nice before the end of 2002.
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BBC Report
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Pat Cox Statement
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Joined statement by the presidency and Prodi
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The Referendum results 1
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The Referendum Results 2
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European Parliament calls for convention on treaty reform, Euractiv
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The Irish Times
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