THE EU: The Taoiseach and the EU Commission president, Mr Romano Prodi, sought yesterday to play down differences between them over the possibility of a so-called "two speed European Union" if member-states failed to agree a new EU constitutional treaty.
Mr Ahern spoke with renewed urgency of the need to agree a new constitution as soon as possible, in the wake of warnings that a two-speed Europe would inevitably follow failure.
But while Mr Ahern and Mr Prodi sought to minimize their differences, Mr Prodi repeated his view that if a deal was not struck during 2004, a two-speed Europe might be necessary.
Mr Ahern said it was "wrong to speculate about failure".
At a press conference in Dublin Castle after the Cabinet met the European Commission, Mr Ahern said it was "now urgent that we take stock, that we move forward as quickly as possible". While many leaders at last month's failed Brussels summit suggested a lengthy break from negotiations, Mr Ahern indicated yesterday that he was opposed to any such gap in talks.
"Just to be very clear: we want the IGC to succeed as soon as possible," he said.
"Whether this happens under the Irish presidency of course ultimately depends on sufficient collective political will existing and we will form that judgment as time goes on. But we will make every effort to build consensus and we believe it is in all our interests to reach agreement as soon as possible so we will do our utmost on it."
He said the Government would proceed on the basis of the report of the Convention on the Future of Europe, which produced a draft constitutional treaty last autumn, and a document produced by the EU's foreign ministers at Naples in December which outlined the areas of agreement and disagreement.
"While there are still a number of key issues to be resolved there is agreement on a number of important elements. In the first instance the Government will be intensely consulting partners and carefully assessing the situation with a view to making a report to the March European Council. We will pro-actively talk to colleagues and assess where people are at and then we will be able to form a judgment and be able to give a proper report."
Mr Prodi, meanwhile, said he had no disagreement with the Taoiseach over the prospect of a two-speed Europe in the event of the talks failing to agree.
"We have to make the effort for one year together in order [to reach] a joint, common decision. If we are unable to do that we can't wait forever. It is clear. We can't stop Europe and there will come some day the moment in which somebody . . . must give example to go on, because Europe can not always go at the speed of a very slow wagon . . . Some day, if we are unable to take a common position, somebody must give example as always happens."
He said that while the EU should proceed together, if it could not do this it would be wrong to drop the European project.
"I'm totally in line with the Irish Prime Minister. We have a different role but we work in the same direction."
However, the Taoiseach said he did not want to talk about what would happen in the event of failure, as "we want to look at this positively. We want to see if we can get broad consensus and move forward. We don't want to look from a point of failure. We don't want to look at what might happen in a few years' time."
He said he totally understood Mr Prodi's remark that if there isn't agreement this year then people "are going to start looking at other ways. I totally understand that but from our perspective we want to move together. We want to do that this year and we want to get on with it now and we will keep the focus on that for so long as we have the presidency."
He said he agreed with Mr Prodi that "moving together is the best way of doing it. We don't want to contemplate failure on the issue of the constitution, whether it will be concluded in this six months or the next six months or the six months after it. The issue is that we move together, that's the best way and that's what Europe has always done very well and it's the best signal to be giving.
"As we look to enlargement which will reunite our continent we firmly believe that moving together is the right way for Europe to advance. There is broad consensus that this is the best approach and that the Union's coherence and cohesion should be preserved, and we want to work for success in the IGC, not to speculate about failure. We want to take a positive and pro-active role."
He said the existing EU structures contained scope for groups of members to press ahead of others on certain projects. It was not a question of forming an inner core and outer core of member-states, as "in the present treaties enhanced co-operation is already there. The vehicle to do things at different levels, at different paces is already there."
Mr Prodi said the Irish approach of "discretion with determination" in relation to negotiations on the constitution was the best approach. "I think it is the best choice. It will help a solution, even if this will not happen during this semester."
The Taoiseach said Ireland was "committed to running an ambitious, effective and impartial presidency of the Union". His priority issue was the achievement of enlargement, as the May 1st date for the joining of the new member-states was fixed and their accession had to be managed.
The presidency's four priority areas were the successful completion of the enlargement process; the full implementation of the Lisbon strategy designed to make the EU's economy more competitive; the pursuit of certain justice and home affairs reforms; and the enhancement of the Union's role in international affairs.
Mr Prodi said the joining of 10 new EU members on May 1st would be historic, and he was happy that the Government was planning "a great day of celebration" involving the Irish people. "We have to demonstrate to these new countries not only that we did it, but we like it."