Brussels, 30/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - "I have no doubts on the fact that it is important for Great Britain to be a full partner and at the fore" in the European Union, announced the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in a speech made on Friday to the Catholic University of Tubingen (Germany). Continuing: "It is time that Great Britain takes confidence in its ability to influence and determine the events in Europe and to realise that it is already what we are doing." The eve in Berlin, Mr. Blair strongly criticised the reaction of the British press to the speech by Mr. Chirac before the Bundestag. He felt that it was time for the British press to grow up and added that he had no problems with the views expressed by Mr. Chirac. In Tubingen, Mr. Blair defended himself for wanting to bring "an answer to the very interesting and very important speech by Mr. Chirac. "I will outline the British vision of Europe during a speech this autumn," he indicated.