President Sarkozy's visit to Ireland
Nicolas Sarkozy and Brian Cowen
© Le Conseil de l'Union européenne
- On: 21.07.2008
- In: Dublin, Ireland
On the occasion of President Sarkozy's visit to Ireland, he and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen exchanged views on a number of subjects.
The President emphasised that he had wished his first trip in Europe as the current President of the European Council to be devoted to Ireland. This was welcomed by the Taoiseach.
They discussed the issue of the Treaty of Lisbon and the recent referendum in Ireland. The Taoiseach noted that the Irish government had set itself the goal of better understanding the concerns that had affected the outcome of the referendum, which was a vital stage before deciding how best to address those concerns. He added that in-depth consultations would take place, both at national level and with Ireland's EU partners, in the context of the European Council that will take place in October. President Sarkozy confirmed that he respected the result of the Irish referendum, but was pleased to note that the ratification process was continuing in the other Member States. He expressed his attachment to the Lisbon Treaty. The two leaders expressed their commitment to working closely together to find a way to move the EU forward.
They reaffirmed the need for the EU to continue delivering concrete results to the EU's citizens in key areas, many of which are on the French Presidency's list of priorities. They recalled the current situation with regard to food and fuel prices, the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy, the state of progress of ongoing WTO negotiations and the need for the EU to play a leading role in tackling climate change and energy security issues.
The two men then discussed the issue of the situation in Sudan and Chad and noted the EUFOR mission's important contribution in Chad and the Central African Republic under the operational command of Lieutenant General Pat Nash and to which France and Ireland are the Member States which contribute the most. Franco-Irish cooperation has an essential role in conducting this mission, which fully reflects the increased role and competence of the European Union in implementing humanitarian operations.
President Sarkozy and the Taoiseach also discussed other international issues, notably the growing preoccupations of the international community with regard to Iran and its nuclear programme, a subject on which they reaffirmed their total support for the EU-led efforts to reach a diplomatic solution.
- Updated: 23.09.2008
