Ireland's build-up to assuming the EU presidency next January continued today when the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, met French President Jaques Chirac.
|
|
The Taosieach, Mr Ahern, shakes hands with Presidnet Chirac of France outside the Elysee Palace in Paris today
|
The meeting is part of Mr Ahern's tour of all EU member states to discuss the most pressing issue Ireland will handle during its six-month term.
The Taoiseach discussed the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference and Ireland's presidency, when it is likely the an EU constitution will be agreed.
Current presidency holders, Italy, had hoped to conclude negotiations on the EU's most significant move towards harmonisation of member-state law to date. But it is looking increasingly likely negotiations will stretch beyond the end of the year and into Ireland's presidency.
Earlier Mr Ahern visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris.
The Taoiseach has now visited Helsinki, Talinn, Stockholm, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, Prague, Ankara, Madrid, Vienna and Ljubljana as part of his Europaean tour.