Sarkozy says Irish ‘no’ must not be over-dramatised in Prague speech

Speaking in Prague on Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty should not be ‘over-dramatised’. Nor, he said, should the importance of the no-vote be played down. Mr Sarkozy said that it was now up to France, who will be presiding over the EU for the next six months, to face the consequences of the Irish ‘no’ vote. The French president was in Prague on Monday to meet heads of the Visegrad four states. His visit also provided an opportunity to liaise with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, whose government will be taking over the EU presidency from the French at the start of 2009.