Press Release: Cowen welcomes ratification of Treaty of Nice by Ireland. Instrument of ratification deposited in Rome

Following the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice of 19 October 2002, the Instrument of Ratification, signed by the President and Prime Minister of Ireland, was deposited with the Italian Foreign Ministry, on 18 December 2002, by Ireland's Ambassador to Italy, Mr Frank Cogan. Since the Treaty of Rome, the Italian Government has acted as depository of the EU Treaties and Instruments of Ratification relating to them.