GREENLIGHT FOR ENLARGEMENT WELCOMED - MINISTER ROCHE
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D., has welcomed the news that the European Commission has given its final go ahead to the 10 countries due to enter the Union next year during the Irish Presidency.
Minister Roche said “The announcement from the Commission shows that every aspect is now in place for the historic enlargement to proceed. It also gives a ‘greenlight' to our enlargement celebrations plans for May 1st next year".
Minister Roche said, “Today's news from the Commission is fantastic news both for the 10 candidate countries, and for the upcoming Irish Presidency. This gives us final confirmation that everything is now in place for the historic enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 countries on May 1st next year".
“A major Enlargement Celebration will be held in Ireland to mark this historic moment when the door on a painful history close and the door to a brighter future for the people of Europe opens,” Minister Roche said.
