EU: The French Foreign Minister, Mr Dominique de Villepin, has become the latest senior European politician to express optimism that an EU constitutional treaty can be agreed this year, saying there was a chance it could be done during Ireland's EU presidency, writes Mark Brennock Chief Political Correspondent
Speaking in Dublin yesterday after a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, Mr de Villepin said that discussions in the next few weeks "are going to be aimed at trying to find a quick solution for these difficult issues. I think it's possible. We certainly have a chance to overcome the difficulties."
Mr Cowen also conceded he was now more optimistic than he was a month ago at the start of Ireland's Presidency. He said the Government had completed an initial phase of consultation with the other member states and would now try to build on the positive atmosphere "and try and go to our March council with real prospects".
While he said he was encouraged by these consultations he warned: "I am more optimistic, but optimism in itself isn't the panacea, the solution to our problems."
Mr Cowen's meeting with Mr de Villepin will be followed in the next few weeks by a meeting between the Taoiseach and French President Mr Jacques Chirac. Some member states have said that French intransigence over its and Germany's demand for a voting system at EU level that better reflected their populations was the major obstacle to agreement at last month's failed Brussels summit.
Mr De Villepin said that at last Monday's meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels "all of us were struck by the good atmosphere and the common willingness to try to find solutions".
He said France had held discussions with the Dutch and German Governments and would shortly have talks with the Spanish. "Of course we have a chance" of doing a deal during the Irish Presidency. "If we can have a good Constitution before the European elections [in June] of course that will be very good news for all the European countries." Mr Cowen said Ireland can't force the issue but could create a climate conducive to a good outcome.
"The desire for an outcome is not in itself sufficient. As a Presidency we will work determinedly and discreetly with colleagues to see what way we can suggest, hopefully in March, how we might be able to move forward to a successful conclusion.
Mr Cowen and Mr de Villepin also discussed the EU's future budget, discussions on which will get underway during the Irish Presidency. They also discussed relations between the EU and the United States and recent developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Western Balkans.