FRANCE: Ireland's Ambassador to France stresses that a whole range of policies caused Ireland's success, writes Lara Marlowe in Paris
Anne Anderson was Ireland's envoy to the EU before she moved to France last year, so it was natural that she devoted a luncheon lecture to the Franco-Irish Chamber of Commerce yesterday to European issues.
The fate of the European constitutional treaty - on hold since France and the Netherlands voted against it last year - is the most burning issue on the European agenda. "We are all in a mark time mode," the Ambassador said, referring to the "period of reflection" which EU leaders gave themselves last summer.
France has not yet enunciated a clear policy on the future of the constitution, though influential politicians such as the interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy advocate paring down the text and ratifying it by the French parliament instead of a second referendum.
"Ireland's position is very clear," Anderson said. "We believe the existing text is the best achievable balance." At present, she continued, "most people in Europe are asking themselves: what happens next? A phrase about 'not changing the text but the context' has entered the jargon."
This would mean "further engaging the public, further discussion, seeing if other member states need to be reassured, and if there is a way accepted by the majority of member states to go forward.
"In many ways, the rest of the Union is waiting to hear from France and the Netherlands what their proposals are," Anderson said. "The ball is really in the court of those who voted No."
Ireland has not yet ratified the constitutional treaty. "I swallow hard when I read that Ireland hasn't held a referendum because we lack confidence that the treaty would be implemented," Anderson said.
"After the French and Dutch votes, you don't hold a referendum until the question of whether this constitution is likely to enter into force or not is answered."
Because of enlargement, Anderson said, France and Ireland are both "on the lookout for new and deeper relationships" within the EU.
"With enlargement, there will be more emphasis on networking and bilateral relations. With so many people in meetings, you have to do a lot of preparation beforehand."
Anderson said three areas are of intense interest across the Union: the identification of citizens with Europe ("How do you help people to love Europe the way it deserves to be loved?"); slow progress in realising the Lisbon agenda on economic competivity ("How does economic patriotism fit with the concept of a single market?") and enlargement.
France has expressed reticence about further enlargement, and wants the June summit to discuss "absorption capacity". Ireland has "invested a great deal in creating relationships with new members, in giving a helping hand," Anderson said. "Is enlargement a threat, an opportunity, or both?" she asked.
Turkish accession is particularly controversial, especially in France. "The Taoiseach has always emphasised that if Turkey meets the requirements, we support Turkish membership," Anderson said.
But, she added: "I think if there was an opinion poll in Ireland now, we would see a certain hesitation."
Like France, Ireland seems to be counting on the length of negotiations - at least 10 years - to defuse the issue.
Many French officials were dismayed by the election late last year of Lech Kaczynski as president of Poland. As mayor of Warsaw, Kaczynski was openly homophobe.
He is a right-wing Catholic, pro-American and a sceptical European who would like to scrap the present constitutional treaty.
"The current government has a different attitude towards Europe from the previous Polish government," Anderson said. "It's clearly difficult for the rest of the EU to adjust to that.
"We hope they'll adopt a more positive attitude. Poland is the most populous new member state. One has seen some sharp collisions in recent weeks.
"As countries settle into the EU, they settle into the practice of mutual accommodation."
The most profound differences between France and Ireland are on economic issues, barring agricultural policy. Ireland resists French pressure for tax harmonisation, and France resists suggestions that it must liberalise its economy.
Her French interlocutors tend to attribute Ireland's economic miracle to EU assistance and tax incentives to foreign investors, Anderson said.
She stresses the whole range of policies in Dublin over the past 15 years, including emphasis on education and the social partnership.
"50 per cent of workers in Ireland belong to trade unions, compared to 8 per cent in France," she pointed out. "Ireland is not a jungle. We sort things out among social partners."
Anderson recognised that there is "a big debate" about social policy in Ireland. "We have prosperity, but how do you share the fruits of prosperity fairly?
"I'm not saying we should follow the French example, with all its rigidities, but it's not all black and white. We have things to learn from France, but France can learn from us too."