Ireland Ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam
Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release
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Ireland Ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam
Ireland ratified the Treaty of Amsterdam today when the Irish Ambassador in Rome, Mr. Joseph Small deposited the Instrument of Ratification with the Italian authorities. The Instrument is signed by President McAleese. Italy is the depository State for all instruments which amend the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community in 1957. To date, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Finland and Austria have also ratified the Treaty
Welcoming the completion of Ireland's ratification process, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr David Andrews, T.D., said "I am pleased that Ireland has now ratified the Treaty of Amsterdam. The Treaty is the next and necessary step in European integration. I look forward to its coming into force and to the implementation of its many provisions of direct and practical benefit to the European citizen. As the perspective of enlargement of the Union draws nearer, the Treaty of Amsterdam will better equip the European Union to meet the challenges ahead."
Note for Editors
While there is no deadline for the entry into force of the Treaty, the Treaty itself provides that it will enter into force on the first day of the second month following that in which the instrument of ratification is deposited by the last signatory State to do so. All EU Member States currently anticipate completing their national ratification procedures by early 1999.
