Minister Roche welcomes the publication of the consolidated version of the EU Treaties

The Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche, TD, today welcomed the publication by the European Union Council Secretariat of the consolidated version of the EU Treaties, incorporating the changes to be made by the Reform Treaty, once ratified.

“The publication of the consolidated version of the Treaties is another welcome development in the common effort to ensure the public across the Union, but particularly here in Ireland, are as well informed as possible on the Reform Treaty.

“This document shows exactly how the Reform Treaty will amend the existing Treaties.  It shows the legal framework that will apply if the Reform Treaty is ratified by all Member States.

“This document is now available on the Government’s dedicated Reform Treaty website (www.reformtreaty.ie).  There is a wealth of other information relating to the Treaty also on the website, including the Government’s White Paper on the Treaty, and a summary guide to the content of the Treaty.  All of these documents are available in libraries, citizen information centres, universities and more across the country.  In addition, they are available free of charge from the Department of Foreign Affairs to anyone who calls, writes or emails requesting them. In addition, the National Forum of Europe is doing invaluable work in providing a platform for debate about the Treaty.  The Forum is to be commended for organising meetings about the Treaty in various locations around the country.

“By the time of the referendum, I hope that we will have had the best informed public debate for any referendum in our history.  Never before has such a wealth of information been available on an EU Treaty”, the Minister said. 

Note to Editors:
The consolidated version of the EU Treaties can be accessed in both English and Irish on the Council of Europe site through the following links:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/st06655.en08.pdf
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/st06655.ga08.pdf

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Press
16/4/08