Ahern says primary aims met in presidency

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has told the European Parliament that he was satisfied Ireland had achieved all of its primary aims during its six-month EU Presidency.

In a speech to the Strasbourg assembly today, Mr Ahern said Ireland set out five main aims on taking up the presidency in January.

These were a successful outcome to the work of the Inter-Governmental Conference; a successful enlargement and progress in ongoing enlargement negotiations; a reinvigoration of the Lisbon Strategy; delivery on the commitments made in the Amsterdam Treaty and in the Tampere programme and to give renewed coherence and impetus to the European Union's external agenda.

He told the parliament he believed Ireland had made significant progress in all of these areas.

He said he felt Ireland's main achievement was securing agreement on a new Constitution, which was " a tribute to the commitment and political will" of all involved.

"We have succeeded in setting down clearly in one single document what the Union is and what the Union does," he said. "We have defined a set of values and objectives that we can all share and which makes the European Union unique across the world."

He said it was now the duty of all 25 EU governments, regardless of whether or not they were holding referendums, to explain clearly to their populations "what is in the Constitution, and why it will be so beneficial for the Union, for the member states and especially for our citizens".

The Taoiseach also said he was "delighted" that Mr José Manuel Durao Barroso had been chosen to succeed Mr Romano Prodi as Commission president.

"At such a crucial time in the Union's development, I do not believe that we could have found a better candidate," Mr Ahern said. "He is a man who is prepared to lead, and able to take decisions."

Mr Ahern wished the Netherlands, which took over the EU Presidency from Ireland, the best during it's tenure.