The editorial of the Wall Street Journal, French newspaper Le Figaro, and the president of the European Central Bank all focused their attention on Ireland's economic record.

In an editorial on protectionism and globalisation, the Wall Street Journal said the real divide in the EU was between "open and less open economies", adding: "The real star pupil is Ireland, which went from the bottom of the EU league tables in GDP per capita to the top in a generation by slashing taxes and barriers to investment. Of the OECD countries, Ireland has the highest share of foreign-controlled affiliates in terms of employment . . . nearly 50% . . . and turnover . . . 78%."

While the article on the eurozone in Le Figaro referred to Ireland's relatively high rate of inflation between 1999 and 2005, it produced tables showing Ireland having the highest rates of GDP growth and the lowest unemployment rate. It also noted that, at 34.8bn, Ireland's trade surplus was "all the more impressive given its population", which is 20 times smaller than Germany's, which itself has a surplus of 175bn. France's trade deficit, the article said, was almost 30bn in 2005. The French newspaper also found that the "most shining example of a country that knows how to benefit from the opportunities of the eurozone and the single European market is Ireland".

Meanwhile, on Thursday in Brussels, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, identified Ireland and Denmark as the best examples of countries with a policy mix that has helped created jobs. Trichet was addressing a gathering of EU prime ministers, foreign ministers and finance ministers on the Lisbon Agenda, the EU's plan to develop "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy by 2010".