Differences over the implications of EU membership emerged yesterday between speakers from three candidate countries at the third meeting of the Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle.

A former prime minister of Malta, Dr Karmenu Bonnici, said if his country integrated with the EU it would forfeit its independence. Given the number of laws and regulations which were formulated and set in Brussels, EU membership would entail a "great loss of sovereignty".

Neutrality was enshrined in Malta's constitution. Dr Bonnici said that, given the trend towards a common EU approach to foreign and defence policy, there was "no question" that Malta would forfeit its neutral and non-aligned status by joining.

There was an EU trend towards militarisation. "We are against militarisation," he said. The threat today to every country was internal and the safeguard was not to be found through collective security in the old sense.

The democratic deficit in the EU was very great and was increasing. "There is a divide between the elite who run the EU and the people," Dr Bonnici said.

Responding, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said Ireland also intended to maintain its neutrality within the EU. "We negotiated that position for ourselves," he said.

He put it to Dr Bonnici that there were situations where sharing sovereignty "provides a prospect of advancing national policies".

Ireland could decide on participation in EU military activities on a case-by-case basis. "The contention that one has lost one's sovereignty is not borne out by the intrinsic facts," Mr Cowen said.

The chairman of the European integration committee of the Czech senate, Mr Vladimir Skalicky, said it was "only natural" that, having re-established democracy, his country should seek to "return to the Euro-Atlantic society" by applying to join NATO and the EU.

"We don't see any alternative (way) to stabilise Europe without integration of its eastern part." The Czech Republic wanted to be "an equal partner and not a burden" in the EU. "We must be prepared to play with the others according to the same rules."

He said that when he heard the result of the Nice referendum in Ireland, "my prevailing feeling was sorrow". The Nice treaty was an "essential condition of enlargement".

However, he had been assured that the Irish vote was not a rejection of enlargement but reflected a "complex of worries" caused by the changes the EU was undergoing.

"We respect your decision," Mr Skalicky said. "I appeal to you to try to find a solution for the common sake of European nations." He warned that "prolongation of the process for several years would cause great political damage in candidate countries".

The Slovenian ambassador to Ireland, Mr Marjan Setinc, pointed out that Slovenia was right in the heart of Europe: "We are encircled by EU members and we are forced to be good partners."

He had heard Dr Bonnici advocate co-operation rather than integration but Mr Setinc suggested these ultimately meant the same thing in the global economy.

Slovenia's economy was "practically fully linked to the EU economy". His country was "very dependent" as a result and could not influence the EU from outside.

"That's why we want to be part of the process," Mr Setinc said. Membership would give access to a "huge market".

In addition, the EU was a "secure and safe place to be" and Slovenia had suffered "some unpleasant experiences in the past".

Mr Aengus ╙ Snodaigh of Sinn FΘin pointed that the leading Czech opposition politician, Mr Vaclav Klaus, had said today's EU was being held captive by a false ideology of supranationalism.

Sen Feargal Quinn said he was an enthusiast for a future united Europe. As a businessman he did not like anybody who said, "I am from head office and I am here to help you."

The Independent TD, Mr SΘamus Healy, said that in voting No to Nice, the Irish people had a number of concerns, including militarisation of the EU.