BRUSSELS (EJP)---On Tuesday, France will take over the rotating European Union presidency from Slovenia under the twin black clouds of Ireland's rejection of the EU Lisbon Treaty and rising discontent among European citizens about the recent rises in food and fuel prices.
To mark the launch of the EU presidency, the presidents of the European Commission and of the European Parliament, as well as the Slovenian Prime Minister will meet in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the incoming president of the European Council.
The Irish question will top the French EU presidency as member states are likely to pressure on Dublin to put the Lisbon Treaty, which is designed to give the EU stronger leadership and institutions to cope with recent and future enlargemen, to referendum for a second time.
French presidency Nicolas Sarkozy is set to visit the Dublin, the Irish capital, on 11 July.
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to "protect" EU citizens and address their day-to-day concerns as his country takes over the rotating EU presidency from Slovenia on Tuesday July 1.
In a statement on the French EU presidency website, Sarkozy said France will try to tackle issues such as climate change, immigration, food safety, health, and economy and finance, which are "at the heart of the concerns of Europe's citizens."
"The European idea will be in danger if we don't protect Europeans," he said.
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The issue will come up at the October meeting of EU leaders and once again at the December summit where member states will be hoping that Dublin will set out a concrete plan of action.
The uncertainty created by the Lisbon Treaty means that even more focus will be put on France's initiative to launch a new Mediterranean Union.
Already watered down by other EU member states for being too divisive, the Mediterranean Union will be launched at a special summit on 13 July in Paris but it is unclear how many leaders will attend - both from EU country and non-EU Mediterranean states - as well as what exactly the new set-up will achieve.
Forty-four heads of state, including from Israel and Syria, have been invited to discuss the new structure which is merely an extension of the Barcelona Process launched in 2005. As a result, Southern Mediterranean countries are showing much less interest.
To kick off his six-month presidency, President Sarkozy was scheduled to appear on national television Monday evening for a one-hour interview.
