Behind the scenes of a summit
Fontaine and the French presidency
« When you preside over the European Union at such a historic moment as that of enlargement, you have no right to waste such an opportunity ". During a dinner with journalists, Nicole Fontaine, the President of the European Parliament, did not mince her words to ask the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister for the necessary boost so that France lives up to the institutional reform of the Union.
Control information first
Fearing above these European meetings where any journalist can fall, at the bend of a corridor face to face with a minister or a member of an official delegation, the Quai d'Orsay, big boss of the French presidency, did not skimp. Delegations and the press were placed at a good distance. Some in the city center, in a cozy casino; the others on the racecourse under large tents placed under the runways of the local airport. However, the ministerial delegations were not totally spoiled. Faxes and telephones usually made available to the diplomats present at the sessions, to dialogue with the rest of their troops, housed in neighboring rooms, have been removed. Laudable goal: facilitate dialogue between Heads of State but little appreciated by some European diplomats.
Biarritz: one million francs but what an advertisement!
One million francs is what the organization of the summit cost the city of Biarritz (municipal staff, reception...); the State taking on most of the costs. A significant sum for such a city. But to put in the light of the presence of hundreds of journalists and televisions. At the price of the minute of advertising, Biarritz has thus offered itself a good campaign at a lower cost.
A Belgian cohabitation
When a Belgian Prime Minister comes to a European summit, he too must "undergo" a cohabitation... that of languages. Linguistic balance obliges, he must indeed in his public speeches alternate Flemish and French. A formidable exercise because it involves transcribing the same idea as faithfully as possible in both languages. Some would get lost...
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde) Published in France-Soir, October 2000
