Lisbon report in time for EU summit

RESEARCH on why Irish voters rejected the Lisbon treaty should be complete by September, in time for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to keep his pledge and report to the October EU summit.

Mr Cowen was in Paris yesterday for the inaugural meeting of the EU Mediterranean union.

The Taoiseach said he looked forward to co-operating as much as possible with French president Nicholas Sarkozy, who said last week that he wanted to know by December whether Ireland would ratify the treaty or not.

The French president, who has just taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, is due to visit Ireland next week to listen to and hold dialogue with Irish people on the treaty.

The Irish have been urging all parties to stay out of the Irish discussion and sources have said in the past that Mr Sarkozy, known for his outspoken style, would not help the situation.

The Taoiseach, when asked if Mr Sarkozy would be allowed to meet people and speak in public during his visit, did not reply.

Mr Cowen stayed in Paris overnight to attend the Bastille Day celebrations, which includes a large military parade.

Mr Sarkozy, in the role of EU president, staged a coup in getting the leaders of 44 countries representing more than 750 million people together. It was the first time that the heads of Israel and Syria sat at the same table.

Relations between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours have been formalised for some time in the Barcelona Process.

Like the Barcelona process, the EU Mediterranean union aims to be an economic and political forum but will have a small permanent secretariat by the end of the year.

As well as regular ministerial meetings, heads of state and government will meet every two years.