EU: The European Union risked "paralysing itself" if it did not reform its way of doing business, according to the Fianna Fáil MEP, Mr Seán Ó Neachtáin.
"Many people believe that the decision-making process in Europe is too cumbersome and complex," Mr Ó Neachtáin told a regional meeting of the National Forum on Europe last night at Loughrea, Co Galway.
"We have to ensure that decision-making procedures are easily understood. They should command the support and understanding of EU citizens in an enlarged European Union."
The Convention on the Future of Europe was preparing a draft treaty for EU reform and this would provide "a good starting-point for an in-depth discussion"between EU governments.
"EU governments are going to need time to digest the provisions proposed within this new treaty. A final EU treaty will only be put in place at what is known as an inter-governmental conference of all the EU governments," he said.
"The Union's institutions were designed for a community of only six member-states. Everyone knows that they cannot expect to function properly in a union of 25 countries unless reform takes place. The bottom line is that the interests of smaller member-states must and will be protected during the forthcoming negotiations to put in place a new EU treaty."
Sen John Dardis of the Progressive Democrats said the Iraq crisis had put the concept of an EU common foreign and security policy under strain.
"There has to be a political willingness to make a common foreign policy of substance work. The rules must reflect the political will, not force the political will."