Press conference given by Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, following the European Council (excerpts) Brussels, March 26, 2004 EU CONSTITUTION
Press conference given by Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, following the European Council (excerpts) Brussels, March 26, 2004 EU CONSTITUTION - Friday 26 march 2004
THE PRESIDENT – (...) I’ve the feeling today that, as the Irish presidency was saying, it’s necessary, but this time it’s possible, to reach an agreement [on the Convention’s proposals] at the next European Council which will take place, as you know, on 17 and 18 June. This is the way forward, as set out by the Irish Prime Minister. I believe he’s right and that we can take up this challenge. I say “challenge” because building Europe in today’s world is indeed a great challenge. We’re clearly seeing that developments in the world are leading, inevitably, to a strengthening of the EU, of Europe and its presence in the world. It is essential for stability, peace and also the advancement of human rights. (...)
LISBON STRATEGY This morning we talked about the Lisbon Strategy. (...) And here too, I was struck by the way everyone is thinking the same way. Everyone, in fact, in today’s world, is uniting – because it’s necessary – around a certain idea of coherence and European dynamism.
KYOTO PROTOCOL I had the opportunity, during this discussion, of emphasizing the importance France – and also the European Union – attaches to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. We’re growing increasingly worried about the prospect of rapid climate change, due to the greenhouse effect. We think that the Kyoto Protocol, with its shortcomings and inadequacies, is nonetheless a decisive step towards dealing more effectively with the causes of a potential deterioration of the climate. It’s not so much the fact that the climate is changing which is serious – there have been climatic changes throughout the planet’s history. It’s the pace of the change which, today, is quite obviously accelerating and is incompatible with the stability of today’s world.
ITER/CADARACHE I also highlighted the unanimity and coherence of the European Union’s position on the ITER project and Cadarache site. All our partners wholeheartedly support the ITER project in Cadarache.
CYPRUS/IRAQ/MIDDLE EAST At the end of the morning and over lunch we talked about international issues. We talked about Cyprus’ problems (...). We of course discussed the Iraq situation, the situation in the Middle East and in particular Israeli-Palestinian relations and what’s being called the “Greater Middle East” plan. Here, I have to say, there was clearly a certain unease and anxiety on the part of all the representatives of the 25 existing and new member countries of the European Union.
COTE D’IVOIRE Finally, on France’s initiative, and adopting the approach I took yesterday evening when answering a question put by one of your colleagues, the Council unanimously passed a resolution on Côte d’Ivoire reiterating that we unanimously supported the complete and immediate implementation of the Marcoussis Agreement, alone capable of leading this country to greater stability and above all to a policy of reconciliation.
TURKEY Q. – This morning you had a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Erdogan. Do you think Turkey has made sufficient efforts to satisfy the so-called Copenhagen criteria to convince the French public that accession negotiations should be opened in December?
THE PRESIDENT – Turkey's efforts are indisputable, her efforts to take on board all the rules relating to democracy, human rights and the market economy. (...) On this point, as you know, we are awaiting the Commission's report which is due to be given to us, I believe, in October. It will allow us to decide whether there is or isn’t a basis on which to launch what will of course be lengthy accession negotiations with Turkey. So today I can't prejudge – that goes without saying – the content and conclusions of the Commission's report.
EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION Q. – I'd like clarification on a date: are you hoping to get an agreement on the European Constitution before the June European elections, or only at the 17-18 June Council? And, second question, to what do you specifically attribute the sudden breaking of the deadlock on the discussions on the European Constitution which after all seemed in serious jeopardy last December? THE PRESIDENT – On the second question, I have never – you will perhaps remember what I said at the last Council – subscribed to the idea which, I recognize, was very widespread, that the deadlock was very serious and virtually insurmountable. (...) The Presidency, I must say, has done a very good job in trying to go beyond the principles and get to the core issues. It has had some success and all this has led to what you call a possible breaking of the deadlock. I don't know if that's quite the right way to put it, but at any rate we now have a situation where we can indeed reasonably hope for an agreement. It hasn't yet been achieved. In democracies, so long as a decision hasn't been taken, things aren't certain. But anyway there are grounds for hope. Today, I think it's both necessary and possible. (...) As for the date, I can't of course provide any clarification. What I've said is that it had to be done for the European Council. If it could be done sooner so much the better. We didn't discuss the date, of course.
IRAQ Q. – When it comes to Iraq, there is this date of 30 June in everyone's mind today, especially as the Spanish troops could leave Iraq on 30 June. Europe, it seems, would like a new United Nations resolution. What sort of resolution, will it be solely on the more crucial, more essential role of the United Nations, in other words on a peacekeeping force sent to Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT – I shan't comment at length on what is happening in Iraq, which is indeed very worrying. France's position remains what it's always been, i.e. that only the fastest possible establishment – and it's now scheduled for 30 June – of a government which is both representative and has the power, probably with the active encouragement of the United Nations, can give the Iraqis back the feeling of being, I would say, engaged in a process of reconciliation and in a return to stability, peace and the possibility of rebuilding their devastated country. So France's position here hasn't changed at all. Is a UN resolution necessary? I think so. It would be useful in order to make things very clear. Telling you that I'm very optimistic in this respect would be going too far.
EU CONSTITUTION/REFERENDUM Q. – I want to come back to the Constitution. We've heard it said that France, i.e. you yourself would have preferred an agreement on the Constitution after the European elections in order, supposedly, to avoid discussion on the subject. I'd like to know if you can confirm this and, secondly, if you've taken a position on the referendum issue. Do you want to hold one on the Constitution? THE PRESIDENT – Firstly on the date, that rumour was in fact reported to me. I don't know where it came from, but on this point France didn't, of course, ask for anything or make any proposal. Things are complicated enough already. We said to the Presidency that the faster we can move the more certain we'll be really to finish for 17 and 18 June, which is for us the essential thing. So whether it's a week before, two weeks before, three weeks before doesn’t bother us. We didn’t raise the issue. I know that some countries are of one opinion, others of the other. France has not taken a position on that. As for the method of ratification, that's a strictly French problem which we'll consider when the time comes. (...)
SPAIN/MR ZAPATERO Q. – One of the major figures missing from this summit is Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. I'm wondering whether France and Spain's positions are going to move closer, at the Spaniards' request, now that Zapatero says he's going to move closer to France. Is France ready to raise the population threshold for [QMV] decisions? I'd also like a personal view: is the change of leader from Aznar to Zapatero going to change the scenario? THE PRESIDENT – First of all, you're asking me for my view on Mr Aznar's management, that's a bit indiscreet. What I can tell you is that I think Mr Aznar has shouldered his responsibilities in two terms of office in a way which indisputably created the conditions for a significant development of Spain. And I believe that no one can dispute this. You then asked me if Mr Zapatero was likely to bring France and Spain closer together. Everything which brings Spain closer to France and also to Germany is necessary and positive. And, from this point of view, Mr Zapatero's first statements seemed to me very interesting and very open-minded. I hope we can strengthen these ties and that Spain will play a strong role in building Europe, particularly by strengthening her ties with Germany, France and others. As for the negotiations, let's wait for Mr Zapatero to appraise the issues, his positions and then we'll see how, when that’s done, the discussions can develop positively, at any rate when it comes to strengthening the ties between Spain and France and also Germany.
ENTENTE CORDIALE/FRANCE-ENGLAND RUGBY MATCH Q. – Did you talk to Tony Blair about the Entente Cordiale and about an entente cordiale which risks getting a rough ride tomorrow evening at the Stade de France? THE PRESIDENT – I couldn’t have broached an issue which could be difficult for him (...)! But I will tell you that I told him I had very great hopes of success for the French team. (...).