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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sarkozy calls for major EU change | Sarkozy calls for major EU change |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a profound change to the way Europe is being built, on the eve of France taking on the EU presidency. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a profound change to the way Europe is being built, on the eve of France taking on the EU presidency. |
| Speaking on French TV, Mr Sarkozy said there had been "errors" in the way Europe was set up and that its citizens were losing faith in the project. | Speaking on French TV, Mr Sarkozy said there had been "errors" in the way Europe was set up and that its citizens were losing faith in the project. |
| France has an ambitious agenda for its six months at the helm that includes immigration, defence and agriculture. | France has an ambitious agenda for its six months at the helm that includes immigration, defence and agriculture. |
| Paris formally takes over the rotating presidency from Slovenia on Tuesday. | Paris formally takes over the rotating presidency from Slovenia on Tuesday. |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner started the process with a handover ceremony in Nova Gorica, southern Slovenia. | |
| On Monday evening, the Eiffel Tower was lit in blue with gold stars, symbolising the EU colours. | |
| Speaking on France 3, Mr Sarkozy said: "Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all." | |
| He added: "There have been errors in the way Europe has been built. We must therefore profoundly change our way of building Europe." | |
| France is not facing the positive outlook it had hoped for at the start of its EU presidency Can French flair beat EU blues?France set for lively EU presidency | |
| He said concerned citizens in Europe were now "asking themselves whether, in the end, they will be better protected by national authorities than European ones". | |
| Correspondents say the French president's long list of "priorities" may prove unachievable. | Correspondents say the French president's long list of "priorities" may prove unachievable. |
| Mr Sarkozy's real priority will be dealing with the aftermath of Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, says the BBC EU correspondent Mark Mardell. | Mr Sarkozy's real priority will be dealing with the aftermath of Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, says the BBC EU correspondent Mark Mardell. |
| 'Average shape' | 'Average shape' |
| The treaty was meant to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc to 27 members. | The treaty was meant to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc to 27 members. |
| It has to be ratified by each one of those members - so the Irish rejection has cast a shadow over all other EU projects. | It has to be ratified by each one of those members - so the Irish rejection has cast a shadow over all other EU projects. |
| Bernard Kouchner is aware France faces a difficult six months | Bernard Kouchner is aware France faces a difficult six months |
| Mr Sarkozy, who will travel to Dublin on 11 July to hear Irish voters' concerns first-hand, said: "The first priority is to pinpoint the problem with the Irish voters and to continue to allow other countries to be ratified, especially our Czech friends." | |
| Asked if Ireland should vote again, he said: "I don't want to say it like that because it would give the impression of forcing their hand." | |
| France has defined four priorities for its EU stint - immigration, defence, the environment and agriculture. | |
| The French foreign minister reflected the mood at the handover ceremony in Nova Gorica. | |
| His Slovenian counterpart, Dimitrij Rupel, said France was inheriting the EU in "rather good shape". | |
| "Well, yes, let's rather say it is in average shape," Mr Kouchner retorted. | |
| In an indication of one of the issues likely to loom over France's presidency, French lorry drivers blocked roads around Paris on Monday in protest at rising fuel prices. | In an indication of one of the issues likely to loom over France's presidency, French lorry drivers blocked roads around Paris on Monday in protest at rising fuel prices. |
| They are demanding government compensation - though Mr Sarkozy's suggestion that the EU reduce VAT on fuel received little support from other members. | They are demanding government compensation - though Mr Sarkozy's suggestion that the EU reduce VAT on fuel received little support from other members. |
| A ceremony celebrating the start of France's EU stint is to be held at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Tuesday afternoon. |