As lead of the EU, the taoiseach will hold summits with Russia, the U.S. and the Caribbean nations after he takes over the presidency from Italy on Jan. 1.
In a letter to his EU colleagues last week, Ahern called for a focused approach to reforms with an emphasis on growth and employment.
“Europe has made significant progress in implementing the reforms necessary to become the world’s most competitive and dynamic economy,” he said. “There are now positive signs that the international economy is on the upturn. If we are to reap the maximum benefits from this recovery, we must urgently press ahead with implementing further reforms. Europe must quicken the pace of reform.”
Another priority will be to put Europe’s relationship with the U.S. back on an even keel.
He told a group of London-based foreign correspondents in Dublin that the first few months of this year were “poisonous” in EU-U.S. relations.
There were transatlantic differences with the Bush administration about the Iraq war, U.S. steel tariffs, corporate export subsidies, EU defense plans and Washington’s rejection of the Kyoto climate change treaty.
The taoiseach told the correspondents that Ireland was in a perfect position to mend fences as it has historic close ties with “our closest neighbor to the west” and has been an enthusiast member of the EU since it joined the Community 30 years ago.
“We want to use our presidency to get back to a full working relationship with Washington. We think we can do it on behalf of the EU — provided the EU is working with us. We can’t do it on our own.”