Sarkozy to seek "solutions" on Ireland trip
Nicolas Sarkozy heading to Ireland later this month
Thursday, 10, Jul 2008 09:41
French president Nicolas Sarkozy says he will travel to Ireland later this month to seek "solutions" after the country rejected the Lisbon treaty.
France has taken over the rotating EU presidency and Mr Sarkozy, addressing the European parliament, pledged to seek progress after Irish voters turned down the treaty's institutional reforms.
"The problem is this. We need to not offend our Irish colleagues," he told MEPs.
"But at the same time we need to know how and under what treaty we are going to be organising the European elections in 2009.
Mr Sarkozy prefaced his remarks with comments about the way he avoided having to hold a referendum in France.
"Before the [French presidential] election I said I would not hold a referendum. I said so in a democratic spirit to the people of France.
"The rules of the operation of Europe are for members of parliament, not for referendums. It's a political choice, I stand up for it."
Mr Sarkozy warned that further enlargement of the EU would not be possible without institutional reform.
He welcomed the 2004 enlargement to 27 member states, saying "the family is back together – don't forget that", but warned that failing to reform institutions beyond the Nice treaty was a "mistake and we're paying for it today".
"I want to say forcefully that we must not make the same mistakes again," he continued.
"If we want a further enlargement we need new institutions before the next enlargement. If we want enlargement, and we do, then we need new institutions."