French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Thursday for dialogue to find a solution to the crisis concerning the Lisbon Treaty, which was rejected by the Irish people.
"I will go to Ireland on July 21 to listen and talk and try to find solutions," said Sarkozy, presenting priorities of the French presidency of the EU to a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"The French presidency is going to propose a method and I hope for a solution in the month of October or December," he noted.
Sarkozy, whose country has taken over the EU rotating presidency on July 1 from Slovenia, vowed to work out a solution to the stalemate regarding the reform treaty after an Irish referendum rejected it last month.
The French president warned that the European Union must not be "condemned to inaction" and the Irish "no" vote against the treaty must not lead to some sort of institutional soap opera.
"It is Europe's duty to act right now," he urged.
The Lisbon Treaty, signed by leaders of EU and its member states at the end of last year, was designed to streamline EU's decision-making and institutions in the 27-nation bloc, in keeping with its continuing expansion.
It must be ratified by all 27 EU member states before going into force originally expected in 2009.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article