Leaders reaffirm need for European Union to deliver practical benefits.
ON THE occasion of President Sarkozy's first visit to Ireland, the president and the Taoiseach exchanged views on a range of issues. The president emphasised that he had wished his first visit within the Union, in his role as president in office of the European Council, to be to Ireland, and the Taoiseach expressed his welcome for such a visit.
The two leaders discussed the Lisbon Treaty and the recent Irish referendum. The Taoiseach explained the Irish Government's aim to develop a fuller understanding of the concerns that affected the outcome of the referendum as a necessary step before deciding how best to respond.
The Taoiseach also explained that intensive consultations would take place, both domestically and with EU partners, in advance of the October meeting of the European Council.
The president confirmed that he respected the outcome of the Irish referendum, but welcomed the fact the ratification process is continuing in other Member States and expressed his commitment to the Lisbon Treaty.
The two leaders undertook to work closely together in seeking a way forward for the union.
The two leaders reaffirmed the need for the Union to continue delivering practical benefits to European citizens in critical policy areas, many of which are priorities of the French presidency. They discussed the current situation regarding food and oil prices, the importance of the Common Agriculture
Policy, the current state of play in the WTO and the need for
the Union to take a lead role in addressing climate change and energy security.
The two leaders discussed the situation in Sudan and Chad and the important contribution being made by the EUfor
Chad/CAR Mission, under the operational command of Lieut Gen Pat Nash, to which France and Ireland are the two largest contributors. Franco-Irish co-operation has been pivotal to the conduct of this mission which fully reflects the EU's growing role and expertise in conducting humanitarian operations.
The Taoiseach and President Sarkozy also discussed a number of other international issues including the growing international concern over Iran and its nuclear programme, on which they reiterated their full support for the EU-led efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution.