"We have finally obtained this 'Europe à la française' that we have
awaited for so long. This constitutional treaty is an enlarged France.
It is a Europe written in French." - Justice Minister Dominique Perben
(Times and AFP, 4 April)
"The European Constitution consecrates the French vision of Europe.
This Constitution marks the coming of the "political Europe" that France
has always wanted." - Europe Minister Claudie Haigner=E9 (Le Figaro, 6
April)
The French Europe
If France approves the EU constitution, French Yes campaigners will have
provided British Eurosceptics with plenty of ammunition for the UK's
poll next year.
Britain's Vote No campaign has kindly rounded up some choice quotes from
French ministers:
* "[The EU Constitution] embodies the French vision of Europe. A 'yes'
vote will reinforce the French model in Europe, a 'no' vote will weaken
it." - Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (AP, 29 and 30 March)
* "We have finally obtained this 'Europe à la française' that we have
awaited for so long. This constitutional treaty is an enlarged France.
It is a Europe written in French." - Justice Minister Dominique Perben
(Times and AFP, 4 April)
* "A 'no' vote is an open door to an Anglo-Saxon Europe. A 'yes' vote is
the advent of a Europe à la française! The constitutional treaty is
inspired by our model." - Minister for Transport and Tourism Giles de
Robien (Le Figaro, 6 April)
* "To vote 'yes' is to show one's attachment to the French model and
one's refusal of the Anglo-Saxon or Polish model." - Budget Minister and
government spokesperson Jean-François Copé (Le Monde, 30 March)
* "The European Constitution consecrates the French vision of Europe.
This Constitution marks the coming of the "political Europe" that France
has always wanted." - Europe Minister Claudie Haigner=E9 (Le Figaro, 6
April)
* "This treaty carries the French hallmark. [it has] all the elements to
allow us to defend, in the years to come, our vision of society, our
vision of Europe." - Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin (Nouvel
Observateur, 22 March)
* "This Constitution allows the French ambition to assert itself in the
big Europe that General de Gaulle hoped and prayed for." - Education
Minister François Fillon (Le Figaro, 7 April)
* "Saying 'no' to the treaty today would be saying 'no' to French
Europe, and therefore, in a way, saying 'yes' to a Europe that we don't
like - to an ultraliberal Europe." - Education Minister Fran=E7ois
Fillon (AP, 25 March)
* "This treaty is everything except a liberal treaty." - Employment
Minister Jean-Louis Borloo (Le Figaro, 31 March)
*(The EU Constitution is)"the crowning of what one could call the French
vision for Europe, against the Anglo-Saxon vision." - UMP party website
Fortress Europe
Much of the quotes above stem from France's government's fear that
voters will oppose the constitution. Unlike in Britain, where much
opposition to the constitution comes from the centre and right, in
France the most vociferous opponents of the treaty are left-leaning. The
Parti Communiste, and associated extremist leftist groups are
campaigning for a no, as are many unions. A large number of centre-left
Socialist Party members have defied party policy and are campaigning
against the treaty.
Opinion polls show that the No camp has a narrow lead.
While the desire to give the government a sound kicking motivates many
no campaigners, the illusion that the EU constitution will herald the
end of France's social model and the beginning of a Europe-wide
Anglo-Saxon market economy has provided the main focus for the treaty's
opponents. The government has been desperate to play down these claims,
even to the extent of dumping its own reform policies in order to allay
anti-liberal fears.
There is definitely a feeling in France that the EU's role should be to
shelter Europe's citizens from the big bad world outside - and even
within the 25 member states.
Foreign minister Michel Barnier admitted that in France, there is "a
feeling that Europe is not providing enough protection against the risks
of globalisation."
This concern prompted President Chirac to obstruct the progress of the
EU's services directive, designed to open European services to
competition. The directive, known in France as the "Bolkenstein
Directive" after the commissioner behind it, provoked an hysterical
reaction in France, despite the fact that French representatives -
including Barnier himself - had been among the commissioners who
approved it unanimously.
Barnier also attacked Britain's EU rebate - a recurrent theme in Paris'
statements on the EU these days - while refusing to accept criticism of
the crooked, illiberal and grotesque Common Agricultural Policy, of
which France is the major beneficiary.
permalink
----
www.eursoc.com . . .
awaited for so long. This constitutional treaty is an enlarged France.
It is a Europe written in French." - Justice Minister Dominique Perben
(Times and AFP, 4 April)
"The European Constitution consecrates the French vision of Europe.
This Constitution marks the coming of the "political Europe" that France
has always wanted." - Europe Minister Claudie Haigner=E9 (Le Figaro, 6
April)
The French Europe
If France approves the EU constitution, French Yes campaigners will have
provided British Eurosceptics with plenty of ammunition for the UK's
poll next year.
Britain's Vote No campaign has kindly rounded up some choice quotes from
French ministers:
* "[The EU Constitution] embodies the French vision of Europe. A 'yes'
vote will reinforce the French model in Europe, a 'no' vote will weaken
it." - Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (AP, 29 and 30 March)
* "We have finally obtained this 'Europe à la française' that we have
awaited for so long. This constitutional treaty is an enlarged France.
It is a Europe written in French." - Justice Minister Dominique Perben
(Times and AFP, 4 April)
* "A 'no' vote is an open door to an Anglo-Saxon Europe. A 'yes' vote is
the advent of a Europe à la française! The constitutional treaty is
inspired by our model." - Minister for Transport and Tourism Giles de
Robien (Le Figaro, 6 April)
* "To vote 'yes' is to show one's attachment to the French model and
one's refusal of the Anglo-Saxon or Polish model." - Budget Minister and
government spokesperson Jean-François Copé (Le Monde, 30 March)
* "The European Constitution consecrates the French vision of Europe.
This Constitution marks the coming of the "political Europe" that France
has always wanted." - Europe Minister Claudie Haigner=E9 (Le Figaro, 6
April)
* "This treaty carries the French hallmark. [it has] all the elements to
allow us to defend, in the years to come, our vision of society, our
vision of Europe." - Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin (Nouvel
Observateur, 22 March)
* "This Constitution allows the French ambition to assert itself in the
big Europe that General de Gaulle hoped and prayed for." - Education
Minister François Fillon (Le Figaro, 7 April)
* "Saying 'no' to the treaty today would be saying 'no' to French
Europe, and therefore, in a way, saying 'yes' to a Europe that we don't
like - to an ultraliberal Europe." - Education Minister Fran=E7ois
Fillon (AP, 25 March)
* "This treaty is everything except a liberal treaty." - Employment
Minister Jean-Louis Borloo (Le Figaro, 31 March)
*(The EU Constitution is)"the crowning of what one could call the French
vision for Europe, against the Anglo-Saxon vision." - UMP party website
Fortress Europe
Much of the quotes above stem from France's government's fear that
voters will oppose the constitution. Unlike in Britain, where much
opposition to the constitution comes from the centre and right, in
France the most vociferous opponents of the treaty are left-leaning. The
Parti Communiste, and associated extremist leftist groups are
campaigning for a no, as are many unions. A large number of centre-left
Socialist Party members have defied party policy and are campaigning
against the treaty.
Opinion polls show that the No camp has a narrow lead.
While the desire to give the government a sound kicking motivates many
no campaigners, the illusion that the EU constitution will herald the
end of France's social model and the beginning of a Europe-wide
Anglo-Saxon market economy has provided the main focus for the treaty's
opponents. The government has been desperate to play down these claims,
even to the extent of dumping its own reform policies in order to allay
anti-liberal fears.
There is definitely a feeling in France that the EU's role should be to
shelter Europe's citizens from the big bad world outside - and even
within the 25 member states.
Foreign minister Michel Barnier admitted that in France, there is "a
feeling that Europe is not providing enough protection against the risks
of globalisation."
This concern prompted President Chirac to obstruct the progress of the
EU's services directive, designed to open European services to
competition. The directive, known in France as the "Bolkenstein
Directive" after the commissioner behind it, provoked an hysterical
reaction in France, despite the fact that French representatives -
including Barnier himself - had been among the commissioners who
approved it unanimously.
Barnier also attacked Britain's EU rebate - a recurrent theme in Paris'
statements on the EU these days - while refusing to accept criticism of
the crooked, illiberal and grotesque Common Agricultural Policy, of
which France is the major beneficiary.
permalink
----
www.eursoc.com . . .