Next EU President attacks idea of 'core Europe'

In an interview with French daily Le Monde, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern - who will assume the Presidency of the EU on 1 January 2004 - has attacked the idea of a 'core Europe'.

Mr Ahern said, "the idea of a 'two speed Europe' or of a 'hard core', where certain countries would try to implement their agenda separately from the others, does not correspond to the common philosophy of the union".

He continued, "I really do not see what would justify a 'two speed Eur...