EU constitution – A triumph for Ahern and Ireland

Yesterday, as he warned, was a long day, but it closed on a historic high note for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who presided over an agreement on the first EU constitution.

It was a glorious apex to Ireland’s presidency of the EU and a personal triumph for Mr Ahern, who cajoled some of the most recalcitrant rivals in the union into agreement.

It was Mr Ahern’s burning ambition to have the 25 member states sign off on the historic document, as his valedictory before the two-day summit in Brussels ended. He, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen and a team of diplomats, achieved it through remarkable negotiating skills and determination over the past six months. Their charm offensive succeeded in uniting disparate political philosophies and overcoming deep-seated distrust.