Ireland aims to mend EU-US rift

Ireland assumed the presidency of the European Union yesterday pledging to use its six-month term to heal transatlantic ties with the United States that were strained by a series of disputes in 2003.

Differences over the Iraq war, Kyoto Protocol on climate change, steel tariffs, an enhanced European defence capability, and the International Criminal Court all took their toll on US-EU relations last year.

"We will place a particular emphasis on transatlantic relations," Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said, signalling his intention to mend fences.

"We differ on some things (with the US), but that's not to say that we should not be working together."

The transatlantic alliance came under severe pressure when France and Germany opposed the US-led war in Iraq and millions of Europeans took to the streets in protest. Ireland believes its close historical ties with the United States puts it in a unique position to improve relations between the two.

However, Mr Ahern gave no guarantee that he would be able to break the deadlock on stalled talks for a new EU constitution, needed to ensure the bloc can cope when it expands eastwards this year.

The key event during Ireland's presidency will be when the EU pushes its boundaries beyond the old Iron Curtain to embrace 10 mainly ex-communist states from eastern Europe on May 1.

Ahern said it was disappointing that a Brussels summit in December had ended in failure with EU leaders unable to agree on future voting rights within an enlarged union.

Spain and Poland have insisted on keeping a larger voice in the EU than is acceptable to France and Germany.

"However, a process of reflection and consultation has now begun," Mr Ahern said during a ceremony marking the official handover from the Italian presidency.

"I cannot promise success, but I will promise that we will work very hard to achieve it," he said.

If Mr Ahern is to break the deadlock over the constitution, he will need to use his sharp negotiating skills, honed trying to heal bitter sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland. He has been charged with taking soundings from EU leaders and delivering a progress report to a March summit.

But, European Parliament elections in June and the appointment of a new European Commission could put further obstacles in the way of a deal being struck.

As a result, few are holding their breath that Mr Ahern will be able to make a breakthrough, and the Irish may simply end up passing the baton to the Netherlands, next in line for the EU presidency.