Sir, - Signor Prodi, possibly the most influential of all EU leaders, has stated categorically that he and his colleagues are committed to the creation of a world power.
None of Prodi's colleagues has apparently repudiated his vision, no head of government has protested. They are evidently all in it.
The states hoping for entry to the EU should be glad Ireland rejected the Nice Treaty. Poland and several other countries awaiting entry to the EU spent several uncomfortable centuries battling to escape from being part of a world power. Until Prodi and his colleagues, publicly and privately, reject any such lugubrious aim for Europe, are we not better off free, neutral, without enemies and large new military expenditure? - Yours, etc.
John de Courcy Ireland, Dalkey, Co Dublin.