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A Euro-Headache For Sarkozy
Paris lit the Eiffel Tower blue during the party to celebrate France's presidency of the EU, but Nicolas Sarkozy woke this morning with a Presidential-size hangover. Not only has Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel given him a dressing-down for his "Sun King" aspirations for European leadership, but Poland's President Lech Kaczynski has refused to sign the EU's Lisbon Treaty following Ireland's rejection of the treaty.
Kaczynski said it would be "pointless" to sign the treaty, even though Poland's parliament ratified it last month. A conservative nationalist (often at odds with Poland's government), he is said to be keen to defend the EU's principle of unanimity on major issues. Treaties can only enter into force if approved by every member state; Ireland has said no, so Lisbon cannot be passed.
"If one breaks the rule of unanimity one time, it will never exist again," he told a Polish newspaper.
He's quite right in this respect, and it is unusual that he has not been supported by other smaller nations, who traditionally defend unanimity as one of the few bulwarks the EU's less powerful states have against the giants.
Germany's President has delayed ratification, too, pending a court decision, while the Czech Republic is also holding its fire on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. Getting Lisbon wrapped up early is a key part of Sarkozy's rather ambition programme for the French Presidency: That way, Paris would have unprecedented control over the carve-up of plum jobs such as the EU's first "president" and "foreign minister", as well as the likely successors to the Barroso commission.
France's wishlist for its EU presidency has already been pruned by other member states. Mr Sarkozy's own Presidency seems to be setting the template for his European endeavour. It begins with ambitious and aggressive bluster, which is then softened when brought into contact with other vested interests (be they the French unions or the government of Germany), before a weak compromise is presented as "reform."
Also on France's wishlist are:
Immigration: An EU-wide "pact" including tougher sanctions for illegals coupled with border controls, as well as a "Blue Card" for qualified immigrants. More ambitious plans for a crackdown on mass amnesties and "immigration contracts" have been shelved thanks to reservations from Spain and Italy.
Defence: Paris has scaled back plans for a 60,000 strong EU Defence Force, thanks to opposition from Ireland and Britain. Royal Navy bosses reacted with amusement to French plans for Britain to donate one of its aircraft carriers to the EU, while the Irish are spooked by anything which might compromise their neutrality.
Sarkozy wants to bring France back into NATO's command structure, though public opinion in France is running against this move.
Protection: Sarkozy believes that the EU should "protect" its citizens, but wonders if the public hasn't already concluded that nation states do a better job than Brussels at this.
One of the reasons the French have become so Euro-sceptic is said to be their suspicion of the EU's "liberalism", which also explains why the French government is the EU's "bad pupil" when it comes to enforcing EU directives. Sarkozy also hopes to address this, describing it as "arrogance" and saying that the French have a habit of responding to EU laws with the attitude "do it if you like, but we're not joining in."
Sarkozy also wants some protection from the EU on rising fuel costs.
Common Agricultural Policy: Though Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac managed to stitch up CAP funding in its present form for the next five years, Sarkozy claims he is open to reform - though the powerful farmers lobby in France is likely to severely limit his room for manoeuvre in this field.
In any case, it doesn't seem the French want to reform CAP so Sarkozy's case could more correctly be described as protecting rather than reforming the policy. His ministers have already adapted their official justification for CAP to contemporary circumstances: Five years ago, when environmentalism was the main story of the day, French ministers claimed CAP safeguarded the environment, despite their farmers being among Europe's worst polluters.
To reflect rising commodity prices due to demand from Asia, they have adapted their argument: CAP now makes Europe self-sufficient in food.
Expect clashes with Britain on reform here: Sarkozy has already fired the first salvo by blaming Britain's Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson for Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, claiming Mandy's liberalism frightened CAP-happy Irish farmers.
Perhaps France's other stated aim - "to explain more what Europe brings to the citizens of Europe" - is a safer bet for Sarkozy, though he might be better starting at home. The Herald Tribune reported yesterday that a Provençal town has recently started accepted the Franc currency once again - and the gimmick has proved very popular.
