France and Ireland have promised to work on new structures to develop their bi-lateral relationship in areas such as trade and science, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking to the media after a "working lunch" with the French prime minister Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who is on a state visit to Ireland, Mr Ahern said both countries would work on developing structures for trade, science, technology and development during the summer.
He said discussions had also focused on the negotiations for the new EU constitution and acknowledged there were "many difficult issues" still outstanding. However, it was important for Ireland to have support for its efforts to reach agreement on the new constitution from a country like France, Mr Ahern said.
The two premiers also discussed the Middle East, Iraq and the EU-Latin American summit, which takes place this week.
Mr Raffarin said he agreement on a new constitution in time for the EU summit on June 17th and 18th was "very close". He said he was optimistic the Irish presidency of the European Union would be a "truly historic" one, with this State presiding over the enlargement of the EU and also over agreement on a new constitution. The French prime minister added that France would support the Irish position for compromise on a "majority" of outstanding issues. Both countries also supported a "Europe for growth" and both wanted to work on building a knowledge-based society.
Asked about French opposition to mention of Christianity in the EU constitution, Mr Raffarin said the country's position was not "hostility" as such. The aim should be to stick as closely as possible to the convention texts, he said. Mr Ahern said he understood "both sides of the argument" and that a compromise had to be reached.
Mr Raffarin was also asked about the US president's forthcoming visit to Ireland and the message France would like the Taoiseach to give to President Bush. He said France too would be receiving the US leader for the anniversary of the D-Day landings. He said the main message to President Bush would be one of "remembrance" of the events and of the amount of blood shed by young Americans. Mr Raffarin added that France was an ally of the US and he hoped its voice would be heard as such. On strategic issues such as Iraq and the Middle East, France's position was that such issues should be developed within the framework of the UN and the international community.
The Taoiseach expressed his condolences on behalf of the Irish people following the deaths of five people yesterday when part of a terminal building collapsed at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. He said the "thoughts and prayers" of the Irish people were with the friends and families of those killed and injured.