Brussels, 16/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - “I tried to change Europe but it is Europe that has changed me”. These were the words of a smiling Nicolas Sarkozy, filled with emotion (and greatly applauded by all members of the House), who addressed the European Parliament and summed up the French Presidency of the Council of the Union. “I have learnt a great deal from this presidency. I have enjoyed the work immensely and I can fully understand that the members of the European Parliament have a passion for what they do … as Europe is the best idea of the 20th century”, said Nicolas Sarkozy, adding that such a Europe cannot be built against states, which rules out all European “fundamentalism” from the start. It must, however, have ambitions, said Mr Sarkozy, convinced it is easier to make big projects a success rather than the small projects as the former have enough life in them to overcome national resistance.
Earlier, Mr Sarkozy had spoken of the challenges facing the French Presidency and the principles that inspired it, including the conviction that the world needs a strong Europe “which thinks, which has imagination, which refuses consensus based solely on what is unsaid, on waiting for time to heal everything … when, the longer one waits, the more complicated things become”. He also spoke of the crisis in Georgia, of the “obsession” to stop the war and avoid what happened in Bosnia - while making our Russian neighbours understand that, if they want to carry any weight in the world, “they must conduct themselves in a way that is different from the way they used to behave”. Giving an account of the financial crisis and the Union's reaction, Mr Sarkozy noted that, if member states had not shouldered their responsibilities together, some countries would quite simply have gone bankrupt. And, he said, it was quite a battle over the energy/climate package but, despite the fact that views sometimes differed, it was possible to comply with the objectives fixed by the German Presidency with regard to the timetable and the “triple 20” target. And yet, voluntarism in the field of the environment must not “place certain eastern countries in an explosive social situation”, he said. In this field, which comes under co-decision (“something I used in talks”, Sarkozy pointed out), “the vigilant presence of the European Parliament was a powerful factor of mobilisation”. The same can be said of migration policy, where good work has been done, “without excess” with the participation of a Parliament that has helped to “appease the debate”. Mr Sarkozy also underlined the role that the Union for the Mediterranean can play in avoiding confrontation between the Arab world and the United States.
As far as the Lisbon Treaty is concerned, “if everything goes as I hope, it will take effect one year behind schedule”, Mr Sarkozy said, recalling the compromises that have been necessary to find a solution that is acceptable not only for Ireland but also for the other Union countries.
Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, sees in the results of the last European Council a victory of the “European partner … able to do the very best”. Confirming his confidence in the French EU Presidency, Mr Barroso said he was also “proud of the central role of the European Commission, of its political initiative anchored in sound technical preparation”. Regarding the European Parliament, and as far as the climate package is concerned, it “immediately showed its understanding of the global context … a project for Europe but also a contribution to efforts being made worldwide”. Expressing his hope that the Parliament will approve the results of work in this field by a large majority, Mr Barroso said: “You have the last key to open the last door to allow Europe of the 21st century to take off”.
Most MEPs acknowledged that the commitment and the very special style of the French president have made it possible to achieve major results in key areas but some showed a certain resistance to his charm and were sometimes violently critical. Danish Socialist Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who said the French Presidency had brought Europe “as far as it could go”, invited him - although this call is first and foremost made to the Commission - not to “oversell” these results as public opinion would react badly to this.
The French Presidency has in very little time managed to make a real political Europe come to life, said Joseph Daul of France, speaking on behalf of the EPP/ED. It has also managed to prevent the financial crisis from having a chain reaction and the loss of thousands of jobs. In Mr Daul's view, this shows that the European model of society remains the best, but that it must still work for greater political stability and effectiveness, especially through completing the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty “with full knowledge of the facts and making no attempt to court popularity”.
Martin Schulz of Germany, President of the Socialist Group, said it was not up to him to sum up the results of presidential action in France but of France's Presidency of the European Union which, he went on to say, “is really not bad at all”. As far as the climate package is concerned, this is also true thanks to the remarkable work done by the European Parliament to which President Sarkozy has rightly paid tribute. Good points also for the response to the financial crisis but, Mr Schulz pointed out, unresolved social inequalities are a “time bomb” that one should not ignore. The French Presidency has something of a fairy tale about it, commented Graham Watson (ALDE, UK), speaking of the “bold prince” on his white horse, “Cinderella from London admitted to the ball”, and the “princess from Berlin who, if she wants to be with the prince, must be ready to kiss a frog”. On a more serious note, Mr Watson welcomed the results of the European Council, saying by way of conclusion: “You have worked well, Mr President, and you now deserve a break, so don't try to do it all and leave the finance ministers to Mr Juncker and the euro to Mr Trichet”. The judgement of Cristiana Muschardini (UEN, Italy) on the work accomplished by the French Presidency and the European Council is on the whole positive but she calls for genuine reform of the financial system in order to put the real economy in its rightful place. Mr Sarkozy stated his agreement with her.
With his usual composure, Francis Wurtz, President of GUE/NGL, recognised the merits of President Sarkozy's “unusual style” and his “iconoclastic method compared to Community canons” with the appearance in politics of “areas that do not normally have the right to be there”. He did not, however, make any criticism on substance. The climate/energy package, that has been called “historic”, could, he believes, result in exempting industrialists from their duties towards the environment, and the economic recovery plan raises questions such as: A plan for whom? Who is to pay? Who will benefit from it? Things hotted up with the speech by the co-president of the Greens/EFA, Daniel Cohn-Bendit of Germany. He said they recognised Sarkozy's voluntarism but went on to add that the French Presidency behaves like a “wind vane” (mainly on the question of unanimous voting) and “reduces the EP to a Viagra for governments … it is not our role to make others play the role that they do not want to play”. Mr Cohn-Bendit was severe about the Sarkozy/Barroso tandem but also about the “economic nationalism” of his own country and about the lack of ambition in the recovery plan. He also went on to condemn the attitude adopted by the French EU Presidency, allowing itself to be “humiliated by China”. Such strong comments led to strong reaction. Speaking at the end of the debate, President Sarkozy affirmed that “it takes more courage to take a step towards the other than to jiggle about on one's seat acting the prophet of doom”. Why does the Cohn-Bendit who is so “courteous, tolerant and pleasant” in private behave like this in plenary? All the more as Nicolas Sarkozy knows he is a “true European”. Representing the Independence and Democracy Group, Nigel Farage of Britain accused those who are asking Ireland to give its view on the Lisbon Treaty again to impose their choice. And what can one say of the freedom of choice of the 26 other Union member states, said the Council president. The Irish have thought about it, he said, but, if they were to say no again, should the others renounce all their ambitions? On the side of the non-attached members, Bruno Gollnisch of France had spoken of a European totalitarian super state and of a Europe that is “maladjusted”. Are not national states, “alone in their corner”, maladjusted?, asked Nicolas Sarkozy, stating that these states alone would not have been able to save any banks.
Nicolas Sarkozy explains about VAT, the role of Poland, Franco-German relations and
the attitude of the Czech President
Speaking at the end of the debate, President Sarkozy spoke on a whole series of questions, sometimes evoked in passing by MEPs, without keeping strictly to summing up the French Presidency's time in office.
VAT. Mr Sarkozy stressed the “strangeness” of a situation in which, if a country wants to lower the rate of VAT on all products, it has the right to do so by a “decision taken entirely alone” whereas, if it wants to lower the VAT rate on a single product, it must wait for agreement from the other member states. “This rule cannot last … the situation must be the same for everyone”, Sarkozy said, inviting his discussion partners not to be “scared every time there is a new idea put forward”. He was highly critical of the fact that VAT on clean products should be higher than that on polluting products and that the VAT on CDs or videos should be so high compared to that on books, as they are all cultural products.
Poland's European commitment. If one does not keep one's word, there can be no rule of law, said Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking of Poland's recent political ups and downs and its attitude towards the Lisbon Treaty. As part of the group of six most populated countries of the Union, Poland also has special responsibilities, the Council president said, reiterating his conviction that all member states have the same rights but that the large member states have more duties.
Franco-German tandem. French Socialist Bernard Poignant had stressed how important it was to have strong Franco-German relations. Smiling, he suggested, moreover, that “in order to have a successful presidency, you also need to have two Socialists with you” (Kouchner and Jouyet), adding that the new secretary of state for European affairs is a Villepin supporter. The Franco-German friendship, replied Nicolas Sarkozy, “is not a choice. It is an absolute duty” even if it is not of the same kind for a Europe of 6 or even 12 members as in a Europe of 27. Ms Merkel lives in a coalition, he added, and “she has perhaps not chosen all the Socialists in her government, whereas I did choose mine”.
Attitude of Czech Presidency. During the debate, Martin Schulz had protested against President Klaus' diffusion to the Czech press of comments held by MEPs during their visit to the castle in Prague, comments that they believed were for private ears only. President Pöttering (who had until now abstained from taking a stance on this incident) had added that, presented in an incomplete manner and totally out of context, his comments were not correct. Nigel Farage had defended President Klaus, but President Sarkozy criticised him for the way he treated President Pöttering and MEPs invited to his country, as well as for the decision to withdraw all European flags from official buildings. “You don't treat the symbols of Europe that way”, deplored the Council president. (L.G./transl.jl)