FRANCE:FRANCE'S PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy has described the Irish No vote on Lisbon as a "problem". Clarification of Ireland's position on the treaty, now ratified in 21 of the 27 EU member states, was "important", he told the European Parliament yesterday because, moving forward, Europe will need all its member states and "nobody must be left behind".
He said that "Europe must not be condemned to inaction" and stressed it was important the matter be resolved in time for next summer's European elections so voters would know if they were voting for an EU based on the Nice or Lisbon treaties.
"I will go to Ireland on July 21st to listen and talk and try to find solutions," Mr Sarkozy said.
EU leaders are due to meet in October to hear a progress report from Taoiseach Brian Cowen on how Ireland can move forward.
Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan said Mr Sarkozy's comments were "a lot more conciliatory" than what had been said in the immediate aftermath of the Irish vote.
"I thought saying we had to find a solution and his comments on the European involvement were helpful . . . It is his job for the next six months. I presume he is going to base his solution on information the Government gathers on why the country voted No," he said.
Mr Sarkozy's commitment to finding a solution for the rejection of Lisbon was not warmly welcomed by all parliamentarians.
British Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farrage, who challenged Mr Sarkozy to accept the vote of the Irish people, was severely critical of his remarks. "Ireland said No, the Netherlands said No, France said No, and Britain would say No if it had the chance," Mr Farrage said. "Do not do to Ireland what you did in France and try to force Lisbon in through the backdoor because that would be showing utter contempt for democracy."
Mr Sarkozy also outlined the priority issues for the French presidency: the adoption of strict measures on climate change and renewable energy; a pact on managed immigration; the development of better European defence capabilities; and a modernisation of the EU's common agricultural policy.
Mr Sarkozy said Europe could not become "a political power and speak with a strong voice" if it could not defend itself.
Mr Sarkozy stressed that a world trade deal and farm reform should not result in a decrease in EU agricultural output: "Is it reasonable to ask the EU to reduce its agricultural production when the world has never needed food so much? I don't think it is reasonable. This is not about French agriculture, it is about common sense."
He added that food security is everyone's concern, but questioned whether it was reasonable to ask EU farmers to abide by rules of quality and traceability when producers of goods imported into Europe do not.
Mr Sarkozy also made clear he would support José Manuel Barroso for a second term as European Commission president.
Responding to questions at the joint news conference Mr Sarkozy said: "If the question is 'Do I have a candidate?', the answer is 'Yes'. If the question is 'Is he sitting at the same table as me?', the answer is also 'Yes'."
