Dutch take over from successful Irish presidency
It will be a difficult for the Dutch to equal the reputation that the outgoing Irish presidency has gained as they take over the reins of the EU today (1 July).
It was not just the Irish parliament that applauded the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern for his political manoeuvring and negotiation skills - which allowed the EU to bring thorny talks on the EU Constitution and the European Commission presidency to a successful end.
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At several moments during Ireland's term at the helm of the EU, leaders and diplomats generally expressed content over the way the Irish took on the big hurdles they faced.
Commission President Prodi is even reported to have said that the Irish presidency was "beyond compare".
Herculean task
After a Summit on the Constitution in December 2003 had failed under the bumpy Italian presidency - and tensions and emotions between member states ran high - it was seen as a Herculean task for the Irish presidency to re-start the talks in a successful way.
But Mr Ahern astutely imposed a two-month period of reflection, which cooled tempers down, refusing to accept the idea of a "two-speed Europe", which would crystallise divisions within the EU, as they emerged from the December summit.
Equally, the presidency managed to find a unanimously supported candidate for the Commission presidency - the Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso - after sharp divisions had emerged over the issue notably between France and the UK.
Chairing skills
Meanwhile, EU diplomats also complimented the Irish for their chairing skills.
They gladly observe that speaking time for member states' representatives was often decisively cut off by the Irish chair, an essential matter in the new EU of 25 states.
However, regarding policies such as foreign affairs and economic reform the Irish were constrained in their ambitions by political events - as much as any presidency.
Although at the beginning of their presidency the Irish had expressed the ambition to build an "effective bridge to the United States" the EU-US relationship remained strained as countries such as France kept actively and openly resisting US leadership in the world.
Business sources complain that another "key priority" on the Irish agenda, the reviving of the so-called "Lisbon strategy" to make the EU economy more competitive, was snowed under during the March summit between other demanding and sensitive issues such as Iraq.
Netherlands takes over
Although the Irish leave an EU to the Netherlands with major issues resolved, the Dutch nevertheless face a difficult six months at the EU helm.
As one of the key challenges, the Dutch will need to address the thorny question of Turkish membership of the EU.
And as the Irish, the Dutch have identified the reviving of the EU economy as a main priority for their presidency.
Politically far more sensitive on the Dutch agenda is the issue of financing the EU's budget from 2007 to 2013, which is expected by some diplomatic sources to be even "more difficult" than agreeing the Constitution.
The Netherlands itself is relatively the biggest net contributor to the EU's budget.
Meanwhile, Dutch leaders and officials may be distracted by two court cases and a referendum.
The European Commission is still investigating the early release of the Dutch results for the European Parliament elections on 10 June, which may result in a court case by the Commission against the Dutch presidency.
On July 13, the European Court of Justice will reveal its judgement regarding the row between the Commission and member states over the rules that underpin the euro - the stability pact.
The Dutch have publicly sided with the Commission against big member states such as France and Germany.
Moreover, the Dutch are set to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution in December and they may well be the first EU country to do so - thus setting the tone for a long and difficult ratification process.