Presidencies of the European Union tax the resources of its smaller member-states but give them an opportunity to project themselves on the international arena for six months and to identify the EU more closely with national life.
Ireland has a good record in this respect as we head into our sixth EU presidency next year - as do most of the existing smaller members, although the system itself is set to change with the pending enlargement of the EU.
The major set piece of this State's presidency from January to June next year will be a celebration of EU enlargement when the new states are welcomed in on May 1st. It is to be marked by a major event in Dublin attended by many European leaders, as announced by the Government at the weekend. Ireland is an appropriate host, given the fact that enlargement was enabled by the second referendum in favour of the Nice Treaty here last October. The presidency will be an opportunity for Ireland to get to know the new members better and to strike up alliances of convenience and mutual benefit with them in an atmosphere of genuine goodwill. It will also help to raise Ireland's profile by having some 100 meetings around the State, although the main summits are now in Brussels.
An artful combination of good preparedness and deft response to the unexpected is what makes for an effective presidency. Themes laid down in advance are not guaranteed to survive unpredictable events in world politics. With this qualification, the Government's selection of priorities is sensible and in keeping with its own political objectives. The Taoiseach has emphasised the importance of improving European relations with the United States and this state is in a good position to do so. The Lisbon Agenda of economic reform and competitiveness finds Ireland a willing partner. There is ground to be made up in completing negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania on when they will join the EU, and with Turkey about its preparations to do so. An effort will be made to resolve the impasse in Cyprus, before it joins in May.
Hanging over this agenda is uncertainty about the most important issue facing the EU over the next year - how rapidly the inter-governmental conference on the draft constitutional treaty will take to complete. It was a real achievement for the Convention on the Future of Europe to finish its work on the text last month by consensus, without minority reports or factional divisions; but this is no guarantee that the governments will finish the job under the Italian presidency. It may fall to Ireland to chair the final sessions.
Among the major reforms proposed in the draft treaty is a substantial change in the EU presidency system. A president of the European Council composed of political leaders would be appointed for a renewable 30-month term. Other formations of the Council of Ministers would rotate less often and intensively. But there should still be opportunities to use these presidencies for identifying with the wider Europe, including by having EU meetings in Punchestown, Tullamore or Waterford.