Phil Hogan
Question:4 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the difficulties relating to the ratification of the Treaty on European Union.
Written Answers. - Ratification of the Maastricht Treaty.
Eleven member states have ratified the Maastricht Treaty on European Union. German ratification is still outstanding. The remaining obstacle to ratification by Germany is that the Federal Government must await a decision by the Constitutional Court before it can ratify. Indications are that a decision will be made by the court in the very near future, possibly next week. It would not be appropriate for me to speculate as to the outcome of the court's deliberations but I am hopeful that the Treaty will be fully ratified by all before long.
Ratification of the Maastricht Treaty has proved to be a difficult undertaking throughout the Community. Lessons have been learned, including the need for open debate on major issues and the need to inform the electorate of what is at stake in negotiating such a Treaty.
The Treaty provides an agenda for the Community in the years ahead. Some of its elements are already being implemented — for example the Cohesion Fund is in place. Other major chapters — health, education, culture, foreign and security policy co-operation and justice and home affairs matters — will come fully into effect after the Treaty is ratified. Economic and Monetary Union has had real setbacks but remains an important objective.
I expect that final ratification of the Treaty will give a boost to the Community's confidence and enable us to get on with its implementation. It will also enable us to focus on action required to deal with issues such as economic growth which, as the Copenhagen European Council agreed, has to be the Community's priority at the present time.