Approval of the Nice Treaty is essential to keep Europe's enlargement process on schedule, the Danish prime minister said in Dublin today.
Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen was speaking following a meeting with the Taoiseach at Government Buildings today.
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The Taoiseach bids farewell
to the Danish Prime Minister, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen, outside Government Buildings today. |
"We are at an historic crossroads in Europe. We have a chance to reunite Europe, which has been divided for so many years," Mr Rasmussen said.
"We all recognise the right of Ireland to make her own decisions but I'm happy that the Irish people know the vital importance of the votes which will be cast next Saturday. It is indeed an historic moment for Ireland and for Europe," he said.
Mr Rasmussen said if the treaty was rejected it would be an "unprecedented crisis" and "there is no 'Plan B'. It's up to the Irish people to make a decision".
Mr Ahern indicated he would not step down if the treaty was rejected for the second time. "I'm working to make sure that we won't even have to dream about that," he said.
He added it would be a "disaster" and a "tragedy" if Nice was rejected.
Mr Rasmussen, also President of the European Council, was in Ireland as part of a European Council tour ahead of the Brussels Summit later this month.
