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Ireland takes over EU presidency
Dublin, Jan 02: Ireland takes over helm of rotating European Union presidency. Welcoming 10 new members and rebuilding strained U.S.-Europe relations will be key priorities for Ireland during its presidency of the European Union, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Thursday (January 1).
Dublin, Jan 02: Ireland takes over helm of rotating European Union presidency. Welcoming 10 new members and rebuilding strained U.S.-Europe relations will be key priorities for Ireland during its presidency of the European Union, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Thursday (January 1).
The key event during Ireland's turn at the wheel will be when the European Union (EU) expands beyond the old Iron Curtain to include 10 mainly ex-communist states from eastern Europe on May 1.
"I pledge that we will be even handed and open. We will build on the good progress made by the Italian presidency. We will listen to all our partners. We will make every effort. I cannot promise success but I will promise we will work very hard to achieve it," Ahern said as Ireland took over helm of the rotating EU presidency on Thursday.
Following a controversial EU presidency with Italy in charge, Ahern indicated that he would try to bring Europe and the United States together after relations soured over the Iraq war. The transatlantic alliance came under severe pressure last year when France and Germany opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and millions of Europeans took to the streets in protest.
Ireland believes its close historical ties with the United States puts it in a unique position to ease transatlantic tensions.
Italy sparked a furore immediately after taking the top seat at the EU last July when outspoken Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi compared a German in the European Parliament to a Nazi concentration camp commander.
Away from the fanfare celebrating EU expansion, Ireland has the unenviable task of trying to break the impasse on a new constitution to help the enlarged bloc operate smoothly.
EU leaders failed to agree on a deal for a new charter last month in a row over future voting rights.
Spain and Poland insisted on keeping a larger voice than acceptable to France and Germany.
Ahern will need to use all of his famed negotiating skills, honed trying to heal bitter sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland, if he is to break the deadlock.
He has vowed to leave no stone unturned in an effort to find a solution and is expected to deliver a progress report to the European Council in March.
However, European Parliament elections in June and the appointment of a new European Commission could put further obstacles in the way of a deal being struck.
As a result, few are holding their breath that Ahern will be able to find a breakthrough, and the Irish may simply end up passing the baton to Holland which is next in line for the EU presidency.
Ahern has also spoken out against moves to create a "two-speed Europe" with some EU members forging closer links than others.
After EU talks on the new constitution collapsed last month, France and Germany threatened to lead a "pioneer group" of like-minded nations towards closer integration.
But Ahern has argued such a scenario would not be in keeping with the EU's common philosophy.
Bureau Report
Following a controversial EU presidency with Italy in charge, Ahern indicated that he would try to bring Europe and the United States together after relations soured over the Iraq war. The transatlantic alliance came under severe pressure last year when France and Germany opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and millions of Europeans took to the streets in protest.
Ireland believes its close historical ties with the United States puts it in a unique position to ease transatlantic tensions.
Italy sparked a furore immediately after taking the top seat at the EU last July when outspoken Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi compared a German in the European Parliament to a Nazi concentration camp commander.
Away from the fanfare celebrating EU expansion, Ireland has the unenviable task of trying to break the impasse on a new constitution to help the enlarged bloc operate smoothly.
EU leaders failed to agree on a deal for a new charter last month in a row over future voting rights.
Spain and Poland insisted on keeping a larger voice than acceptable to France and Germany.
Ahern will need to use all of his famed negotiating skills, honed trying to heal bitter sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland, if he is to break the deadlock.
He has vowed to leave no stone unturned in an effort to find a solution and is expected to deliver a progress report to the European Council in March.
However, European Parliament elections in June and the appointment of a new European Commission could put further obstacles in the way of a deal being struck.
As a result, few are holding their breath that Ahern will be able to find a breakthrough, and the Irish may simply end up passing the baton to Holland which is next in line for the EU presidency.
Ahern has also spoken out against moves to create a "two-speed Europe" with some EU members forging closer links than others.
After EU talks on the new constitution collapsed last month, France and Germany threatened to lead a "pioneer group" of like-minded nations towards closer integration.
But Ahern has argued such a scenario would not be in keeping with the EU's common philosophy.
Bureau Report