Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern TD launches EU50 book

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, TD, today launched a book of essays to mark fifty years of European integration since the Treaty of Rome.

The book - “Foundations of an Ever Closer Union: An Irish perspective on the fifty years since the Treaty of Rome”- is published by the Institute of Public Administration and contains contributions from leading Irish experts on EU affairs.  The book also contains a contribution from T.K. Whitaker, the highly distinguished public servant, on the influence that European integration had on the change in economic policy from protectionism to free trade in Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern T.D. said
“These essays serve as a timely reminder of the momentous changes that have occurred in Ireland since we joined the then EEC in 1973.  They also draw attention to the enormous benefits that we have derived from EU membership. 

The people of Europe enjoy one of the best standards of living in the world.  Europe now plays a significant and growing role in world affairs and is the world’s largest provider of overseas development aid, delivering in the region of €50 billion to more than 150 countries and territories every year.” 

Background:  The Treaty of Rome, 1957 is the founding Treaty of the European Union.  The 50th anniversary of the Treaty is being marked in Ireland and throughout the Union over the course of the year with a series of commemorative events.  The book of essays is the major academic contribution to the series.
ENDS +++12 December, 2007