FRANCE: French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called a special debate in the National Assembly yesterday to explain the government's position at the European Council meeting that starts today in Brussels.
Following the French and Dutch rejection of the European constitutional treaty, Mr de Villepin said: "We must not add a financial crisis to political difficulties." France supports the Luxembourg presidency's efforts to reach agreement on the 2007-2013 budget, "all the while believing that to arrive at a reasonable, fair agreement, every party must go some of the way".
In financial negotiations, the four principles defended by France were budgetary discipline, solidarity towards new member states, respect for past commitments (in particular the October 2002 agreement on Cap financing until 2013) and fairness.
The Cap agreement was "a major established right for our farmers, that no one can put into question", Mr de Villepin said.
As for fairness: "Everyone must contribute to the European effort in proportion to their means. The United Kingdom must fulfil its role in financing the enlarged Europe."
Mr de Villepin's position on the ratification process - the other main issue in Brussels was vague. "It is up to each state to express itself in turn, following the modalities it shall have chosen," he said. But the centre-right UDF deputy Anne-Marie Comparini was adamant. "France must insist in the European Council that the process go to completion," she said.
The head of the socialist group, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who supported the treaty, said it was "hopeless" to continue the process.
"Let us have the lucidity to see it's a losing battle. The French and Dutch No votes provoked a devastating blast effect among our partners. To insist on prolonging ratification would be the best way to paralyse Europe."
There was broad consensus among the main parties on two questions: the need for a European economic policy and the necessity of slowing down or stopping enlargement. Mr de Villepin limited his appeal for co-ordinating budgetary and economic policies to the Eurogroup. Ms Comparini went further, advocating "a veritable economic and social governance" - to include tax harmonisation - for the entire union.
Mr de Villepin summarised French thinking on enlargement: "French men and women want to know in what Europe they will build their future, and what will be its borders." A "pause" in enlargement was necessary "if we want it to be understood and accepted by our people", Mr Ayrault said.
Deputies on the conservative majority benches booed and banged on their desks while Mr Ayrault delivered his diatribe against President Chirac. "Jacques Chirac scuttled the constitutional treaty," the leader of the socialist group accused. "His policies turned France against Europe... Today, his only response to the crisis he provoked more resembles the petty calculations of a grocer than the vision of a head of state. I say it with sadness for our country: Jacques Chirac has become one of the problems of Europe."
Mr Ayrault and his communist counterpart, Marie-George Buffet, both alluded disparagingly to the opinion piece published in yesterday's Le Monde by the former president and chief architect of the constitution, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
"The president of the convention has explained in a daily newspaper, with the contemptuousness of another age, that the people should not have been consulted on such a matter..." Ms Buffet said.
Settling scores with his old nemesis, Mr Chirac, Giscard wrote that it was a mistake to send voters "a 191-page document including 448 articles, 36 protocols and 50 declarations".