A warning that EU enlargement must not lead to the erosion of democracy was issued by the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, in Dublin yesterday.
Addressing the Partnership for Diversity Forum 2001, which began at Dublin Castle and continues at Stormont today, Mr Hume pointed out that each member-state would have fewer MEPs in an enlarged European Parliament, and states which had two Commissioners would have just one.
The Partnership, along with the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, aims to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages within the EU and its institutions.
Mr Hume said planned changes in the EU were necessary and unavoidable but people should be cautious about any negative impact.
"One effective remedial measure must surely be the strengthening of regional and local government," he said.
This would mean putting the issue of subsidiarity into effect within the member-states and not just between the EU and its members. It would have the effect of empowering people, giving them more effective control over their lives.
He felt that nowhere was this empowerment more needed than in the domain of language and culture. It was unthinkable that Europe should withdraw support from its languages.
"Concepts of human rights, European citizenship, equality and subsidiarity would be undermined if this were to happen," Mr Hume said. "There can be no second-class citizenship in the Europe of tomorrow."
Referring to today's session at Stormont, which is supported by North-South implementation bodies, one dealing with Irish and the other with Ulster-Scots, he said it was "evidence of how far we on this island have progressed in building bridges over the past few years".
