France

We need to change the way we build Europe: Sarkozy

Article published on the 2008-06-30 Latest update 2008-07-01 08:11 TU

French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his TV interview June 30.
(Credit: Reuters/TV3)

On the eve of the French six-month presidency of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke of the need to change the way Europe is "being built" in a television interview late Monday in Paris, referring to the Irish "no" and the way forward. The price of oil and the issue of EU fishing quotas were also discussed in-depth.

"We expect Europe to protect Europeans againsts the risks induced by globalisation, and this is why it doesn't work," he said.

"We need to think about how this Europe can protect Europeans in their daily lives," he said. "We should not be afraid of the word 'protection', we need Europe. There are issues that can only be resolved at a European level," he added.

The "no" vote by Ireland voters has been a setback for Sarkozy's ambitions for the French Presidency of the European Union. In June, the Irish derailed the Lisbon Treaty, aimed at streamlining EU institutions.

"Our first priority will be to leave it to the Irish to resolve this problem," Sarkozy said, adding that other European countries must continue to ratify the treaty.

He will travel to Ireland on 11 July to listen to the Irish voters in his new capacity as the EU president.

Sarkozy spoke of his proposition not to raise VAT on oil, an idea that the other EU member states, particularly Germany, have been reticent to accept.

"If, in October, the price of a barrel continues to rise, if it is $175, $180, $200, we cannot continue to take 20 per cent of the taxes," he said.

He reiterated his other initiative to lower VAT by 5.5 per cent on more ecologically sound cars.

When asked about the quotas fixed by the EU on fishing, he said, "What I want is that we ask the question about resources, not quotas. If I am shown that the resource is on the verge of extinction, then quotas are necessary."

As one of the first steps of his EU presidency to begin on Tuesday, he sugggested that scientists who compile the data for the quotas and fishermen meet to discuss this issue.

"I don't understand why scientists do not listen to people who live off of the sea," he added.