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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: maceng2 who wrote (53272)	10/19/2002 9:26:00 PM
From: Eashoa' M'sheekha	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT - Early Irish Vote Is 'Yes' to EU By Ed Johnson Associated Press Writer Saturday, October 19, 2002; 6:55 PM DUBLIN, Ireland –– Supporters of European Union expansion took an early lead in Ireland's crucial referendum, the first official returns showed Saturday. Voters in six Dublin districts gave a resounding endorsement to the Union's plan to extend membership to the formerly communist states of the east. They represented less than a sixth of Ireland's total electorate but provided heartening news to the government, which pushed hard for a "yes" vote. Final results were expected Sunday. In one of the six reporting districts, 73 percent of voters backed a bigger EU, which would extend from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and Russia's border to the Atlantic. In the district with the weakest showing for the pro-expansion camp, 56 percent of the votes backed the EU plan. Several of the reporting districts voted "no" when Ireland held a similar referendum last year. Turnout in the six districts appeared to be high, ranging from 44 percent to 55 percent, far above last year's 34 percent. Strong turnout is believed to favor the pro-expansionists. "This referendum is all over," said Dublin political analyst Noel Whelan, who forecast a resounding victory for the treaty when full results come. Whelan noted that the capital's vote had swung 10 percent to 20 percent in favor of the "yes" camp compared to June 2001, when Irish voters shocked their EU neighbors by rejecting the expansion plan. A second Irish rejection of the plan would put expansion on ice for years. The expansion blueprint is contained in a treaty negotiated in December 2000 in Nice, France, to fulfill the post-Cold War dream of integrating former communist states into the European fold. The treaty would also reorganize EU institutions to streamline decision-making in an expanded Union of nearly a half billion people. The treaty must be ratified by all 15 current members of the EU. Fourteen have done so by parliamentary vote, but Ireland's constitution requires it to hold a referendum. In a move that stunned EU leaders, Irish voters turned down the treaty in July 2001 by 54 percent to 46 percent – a result widely blamed on a low, 34 percent, turnout and a lackluster campaign by its supporters. This time, treaty supporters throughout the 15-nation EU hoped that a larger turnout and a more aggressive government campaign in support of EU expansion would persuade most Irish voters to approve it. On its Web site, The Irish Times quoted election officials as estimating the nationwide turnout Saturday at around 40 percent. Recent opinion polls showed a majority approving the treaty but about one-third undecided. Those forecasts were similar to those before the 2001 vote. European Union officials have said there is no fallback plan for expansion if the Irish reject the treaty a second time. European Commission President Romano Prodi said this week that a second rejection would be a "disaster scenario," adding "we hope the Irish people realize just how important the referendum is." Fearing a crisis within the EU, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern campaigned for weeks to galvanize support for expansion, insisting it would boost Ireland's export-oriented economy and enhance cultural diversity. "I voted 'yes,' because that is the right thing to do," Ahern said Saturday as he emerged from a polling station in north Dublin. Approval of the treaty would pave the way for 10 countries – Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus – to join the EU in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania are expected to enter the Union three years later. Some Irish critics said they did not object to accepting new EU members but oppose provisions of the treaty which they fear will reduce Ireland's influence and erode the country's cherished military neutrality. "I believe that France and Germany are pushing the buttons here," said Dublin taxi driver Brian De Bheb. "And we're being told to toe the line." Ireland has profited from its own EU membership, enabling a land once known for famine and emigration to achieve some of Europe's strongest economic growth rates. Some Irish, however, fear that EU subsidies once provided to countries like Ireland, Greece and Portugal will be directed to much poorer nations to the east. Polling began slowly when stations opened to a smattering of voters, wrapped up warm against a bright but chilly autumn morning. However, Environment Minister Martin Cullen, who is in charge of electronic voting, said after the polls closed that turnout appeared to be higher than last year, although he did not know by how much. "I hope I voted right," said Sister Margaret Boran, a frail 86-year-old nun who cast her ballot in Dublin. "I think unity is important – unity of understanding and unity of purpose." Ben Tonra, EU policy analyst at University College Dublin, said Ireland would be in "the doghouse of Europe" if voters stand in the way of expansion. Editorials in some eastern European newspapers agreed. Hungary's daily Magyar Hirlap newspaper said Ireland would be seen as an "an untrustworthy and ungrateful nation" if it again said no.