French President Jacques Chirac launched a fierce attack on the European Union on Tuesday, accusing its executive Commission of failing in its duty to defend European interests and jobs.Brussels had failed to protect European interests in world trade talks and its defence of European jobs had been weak, fuelling public hostility towards the once popular European ideal, the French leader said. "The vocation of Europe and of European institutions is also, and above all, to defend Europe, to defend the economic, financial and social interests of Europe," Chirac said, as workers across France went on strike over his government's economic reforms. "Is it normal for the Commission to be disinterested in a problem?" he asked. "This is one of the reasons that explains the current disavowal of Europe ... It is a problem that must be looked at."
But the Commission said it was unfair to blame it for Europe's problems. "It's a bit simplistic to make the Commission the scapegoat," chief Commission spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail said. "We have always defended European interests, but within the limits of our responsibilities."
French policy on Europe has been in disarray since voters rejected the EU constitution on May 29, a result due in part to anger over domestic reforms but also to anxiety over the loss of jobs to low-income countries outside the 25-nation bloc.
The vote considerably weakened Chirac at home and allowed British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose euro-sceptical country opposes the sort of political integration favoured by Paris, to demand reforms to ensure leaders listen more to voters.
Um, did he say Chirac was being simplismÚ? Heh.