Irish social and economic partnership can serve as a model for other European states during Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the European Union, Dr Christoph Leitl, president of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres), said yesterday.

Dr Leitl was speaking during a day-long visit to the city during which he met Minister of State for Finance, Mr Tom Parlon, and Minister of State for Europe, Mr Dick Roche.

"I expect that during the Irish presidency, social partnership will be an issue," he said. " The Irish presidency could give a milestone in that field. This could be a most fascinating goal for the Irish presidency."

The upcoming presidency was also an opportunity to refocus on business matters in order to catch up with the targets set by the Lisbon strategy. This aims to transform the EU into the world's leading knowledge-based economy by 2010.

"Due to the need to bring back political stability and to outline and launch the future of Europe, it is understandable that there has been less political focus on the plight of the economy during the last years than would otherwise be the case," he said.

"The Irish presidency marks the turning-point to regain the balance between political and economic issues.

"We urge the presidency to focus on the sluggish European economy despite the administrative work which has to be done to create an adequate organisational framework for the political future of the Union."

Eurochambres, which represents a network of 2,000 regional and local chambers with over 17 million companies, had seen a development of its role from providing services to its members to being invited to take part in reaching the goals of the Lisbon strategy.