President Mary McAleese has defended her outspoken support of EU enlargement during her state visit to Finland and Estonia. Speaking in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, she said that it was her right as President to reflect on Ireland's positive experience of EU membership with other small applicant countries.
President McAleese spoke about the heated debate that took place before Ireland joined the EU in 1973. She said that we made the right choice and today we are regarded as one of the EU's outstanding success stories.
During a speech last night, Mrs McAleese said that Ireland had a particularly positive view of the next phase of enlargement, and it welcomed the economic and political dynamic that applicant countries would bring to the EU. Mrs McAleese said in Finland on Wednesday night that the enlargement of the European Union would bring about enrichment for all, in economic, social and cultural terms.
