Ireland

Due to Ireland's close political, economic and geographic proximity to the UK, membership of the European Community was closely related to that of its larger neighbour. Thus, Ireland joined the EC at the same time as the UK, on 1 January 1973. Since its membership of the EC, Ireland has been one of the most pro-European member states. This is particularly due to the opportunities that EC/EU membership has offered Ireland, including priority for structural fund provisions, access to European export markets, the ability to forge international relations independently of the UK, and especially the rapid period of economic growth experienced by Ireland since 1992. Due to the perceived benefits to Ireland of these opportunities, support for the EU has always been exceptionally high amongst the Irish population. Thus, in a 2006 Eurobarometer survey, Ireland was the most supportive of European integration of all the EU25, with 77% of respondents claiming that Ireland's membership of the EU was a good thing. Due to this ongoing support for the EU it came as a shock when Ireland voted against the ratification of the Nice Treaty in a referendum held in June 2001. However, after the EU reassured the Irish public that the Nice Treaty would not threaten Irish neutrality, a second referendum in 2002 witnessed a 'yes' vote for the Treaty.

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Oxford University Press, Online Resource Centre, Ireland.

Ireland