Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200807/20080701/article_365228.htm
Sarkozy in combative mood as France takes the EU helm for six months
Created: 2008-7-1 9:31:22
FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy was in combative mood as France assumed leadership of the European Union, criticizing the bloc's trade chief and warning Europe's central bank against hiking interest rates.
Some analysts have questioned whether Sarkozy's sometimes brash and often direct style will be suited to the task of building consensus among the EU's 27 member nations. France is taking over the rotating six-month presidency amid high oil prices, economic challenges posed by the euro's strength over the US dollar and uncertainty about the bloc's future after Ireland rejected an EU reform treaty this month.
Sarkozy, in a television interview yesterday evening, reiterated that France's priorities during its half-year at the helm would in stemming the influx of illegal immigrants, combatting global warming and softening the blow of high oil prices.
He said Europeans wanted the EU to protect them against threats coming from globalization. France says the EU risks alienating Europeans if it fails to take care of their day-to-day concerns.
"The European idea will be in danger if we don't protect Europeans," Sarkozy said.
One of Sarkozy's long-standing complaints is that the common euro currency is overvalued, hurting European economic competitiveness. The European Central Bank is widely expected to raise its interest rates this week amid record high euro-zone inflation -- a move that could send the euro rising even further against the dollar.
Sarkozy said raising interest rates would prevent people and companies from borrowing and investing. He blamed inflation on rising prices for products like oil, and said doubling or even tripling interest rates would not bring oil prices down.
"Don't tell me that to fight inflation, we must raise interest rates," he said.
Sarkozy indicated that he, like his predecessor Jacques Chirac, would be a strong defender of European farmers.
And he accused the EU's trade chief, Peter Mandelson, and the head of the World Trade Organization of seeking to push forward trade proposals that Sarkozy said would lead to a 20-percent cut in European agricultural production and a 10-percent reduction in its agricultural exports.
"That is 100,000 jobs lost. I will not let that happen," Sarkozy said.
Irish voters' rejection of the EU reform treaty on June 13 has cast a pall over France's EU presidency. The treaty, which took years to draft and was signed last year in Portugal, aims to streamline the way the bloc makes decisions and bolsters its powers in such areas as immigration and fighting crime. It also aims to make the EU's foreign policy more effective with the creation of an EU president and single envoy to represent the bloc abroad.
The treaty can only take effect in 2009 if ratified by all 27 EU states. To date, 18 have done so, and Ireland has nixed the chance of unanimity for the moment.
For the next six months, France will preside over a bloc that boasts nearly half a billion people and an economy rivaling America's yet that struggles to manage its financial and diplomatic heft.
Six months isn't a long time in terms of EU bureaucracy, and analysts note few countries make great strides during their half-year terms in charge.
Some countries are more effective than others.
The context counts for much.
The Irish no vote could make this presidency tricky. Also, August is a holiday in Europe, so France's presidency will really be five working months, not six.
Some analysts have questioned whether Sarkozy's sometimes brash and often direct style will be suited to the task of building consensus among the EU's 27 member nations. France is taking over the rotating six-month presidency amid high oil prices, economic challenges posed by the euro's strength over the US dollar and uncertainty about the bloc's future after Ireland rejected an EU reform treaty this month.
Sarkozy, in a television interview yesterday evening, reiterated that France's priorities during its half-year at the helm would in stemming the influx of illegal immigrants, combatting global warming and softening the blow of high oil prices.
He said Europeans wanted the EU to protect them against threats coming from globalization. France says the EU risks alienating Europeans if it fails to take care of their day-to-day concerns.
"The European idea will be in danger if we don't protect Europeans," Sarkozy said.
One of Sarkozy's long-standing complaints is that the common euro currency is overvalued, hurting European economic competitiveness. The European Central Bank is widely expected to raise its interest rates this week amid record high euro-zone inflation -- a move that could send the euro rising even further against the dollar.
Sarkozy said raising interest rates would prevent people and companies from borrowing and investing. He blamed inflation on rising prices for products like oil, and said doubling or even tripling interest rates would not bring oil prices down.
"Don't tell me that to fight inflation, we must raise interest rates," he said.
Sarkozy indicated that he, like his predecessor Jacques Chirac, would be a strong defender of European farmers.
And he accused the EU's trade chief, Peter Mandelson, and the head of the World Trade Organization of seeking to push forward trade proposals that Sarkozy said would lead to a 20-percent cut in European agricultural production and a 10-percent reduction in its agricultural exports.
"That is 100,000 jobs lost. I will not let that happen," Sarkozy said.
Irish voters' rejection of the EU reform treaty on June 13 has cast a pall over France's EU presidency. The treaty, which took years to draft and was signed last year in Portugal, aims to streamline the way the bloc makes decisions and bolsters its powers in such areas as immigration and fighting crime. It also aims to make the EU's foreign policy more effective with the creation of an EU president and single envoy to represent the bloc abroad.
The treaty can only take effect in 2009 if ratified by all 27 EU states. To date, 18 have done so, and Ireland has nixed the chance of unanimity for the moment.
For the next six months, France will preside over a bloc that boasts nearly half a billion people and an economy rivaling America's yet that struggles to manage its financial and diplomatic heft.
Six months isn't a long time in terms of EU bureaucracy, and analysts note few countries make great strides during their half-year terms in charge.
Some countries are more effective than others.
The context counts for much.
The Irish no vote could make this presidency tricky. Also, August is a holiday in Europe, so France's presidency will really be five working months, not six.
Agencies
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