My European Dream, by Nicolas Sarkozy

(BRUXELLES2) Ah No... This was the cry from the heart of the President of the French Republic when a journalist asked him if he dreamed of a European destiny. If he has a European dream, it is certainly not in Brussels. " The only way you have to keep hearing me and working is to re-elect me he said as a joke, very serious after all.

He was also in no hurry to leave the journalists, Nicolas Sarkozy, during his conference at the end of the European summit on Friday (March 2). After a "last question", we had "a last question perhaps" and then finally 5-6 questions, without counting the traditional "Off" when he left the room which lasted a good quarter of an hour. The time for the Head of State to deliver a kind of European program, a guide for Europe after the end of the crisis that he foresees. A guide for his successor perhaps too. Because, in these cenacles of Heads of State and Government, which he sometimes criticized, often shook, President Sarkozy, finally, felt somehow at ease and had made his mark there.

Europe with two circles

First of all, Nicolas Sarkozy draws the two Europes: there is the Europe of 17 and more, which must move towards greater integration: the Europe of the euro zone; and there is the Europe of 28 - with Croatia and more with the Balkans - which must go, even more, towards a confederal management so that this is not an obstacle. (...) The more the European Union expands and therefore becomes confederal, the more the euro zone will have to integrate economic and monetary convergence. “And to add:” Clearly, what must be called two Europes in one is being put in place: the Europe of the single currency and the Europe of political Union.

No European dream, but a reality

However, he does not want to talk about his “European dream”. " The characteristic of the dream? That's not the reality. The characteristic of what people want? It's that we improve their reality. » In Europe, " we have done a lot of institutional work, we have set up tools, we now have to use them to the full. And... that's the most exciting part. »

Asia: no opening no market

First project: the definition of a new commercial policy " from Europe. " is it normal that all European public markets are open to certain Asian countries and that no public market in Asia is open to European companies? I asked for the rule of reciprocity in trade negotiations. If certain Asian countries do not want to open their public markets to European companies, the question must clearly be raised of the opening of European public markets to companies from those countries. It's not protectionism, it's reciprocity ».

Anti-dumping, competition policy, tax harmonization

Another priority: anti-dumping, there is still work to be done. Sarkozy put it bluntly during a meeting with José-Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission: "in terms of steel, there were new anti-dumping measures to be taken".

Second project: competition policy, it is “ to completely rethink". " We make a single market. Should we analyze competition, market by market, or on the single market? Should there be twenty-seven competition policies or just one ? ". NB: In other words, it is necessary to analyze the position of abuse of a dominant position, for example, not on its natural, geographical market, but on the whole of European territory, or even on a global scale. We are very close to the discussion on the industrial policy dear to the French, which the president would also like to see succeed.

Third project: tax harmonisation. " Tax dumping, social dumping, is it normal in Europe, between us? Harmonization does not mean the same taxation, but harmonization does count”.

Values, European defence, Schengen, Mediterranean policy

Fourth project: values. Between "the establishment of a tax on financial transactions, the defense of democracy and human rights" there is space. And the president to also mention.

Fifth project: defence. There is " the need for a formidable European defense policy. There are many, many things to do. »

Sixth project: interior space. “We are asking for (...) a different functioning of Schengen” without counting “the definition of an immigration policy common to all European countries”.

Seventh project: the Mediterranean neighborhood and the Mediterranean policy of Europe. “I have always fought to say that Libya and Syria were first of all problems of Europe, it is a border region of Europe. The Mediterranean Sea is a European sea, deeply. We are there at the heart of European civilisation.

Go to Europe: well no!

At ease in his head of state boots, Nicolas Sarkozy does not see himself putting on another European costume. " Oh no, I still have enough to take care of Europe for five years, without being in the place of Mr. Barroso or Mr. Van Rompuy! There is a considerable construction site. And anyone who wants to quibble is immediately answered: No, in no case, in any way, neither now nor later. " It's clear... “I don't think I have the qualities to be an excellent President of the Commission and an excellent President of the Council. » he explains putting a censer above the head of Herman Van Rompuy... a little less nice for Barroso.

« Herman Van Rompuy really has all the qualities -- because he has both authority and at the same time the concern not to act in place of the leaders of the countries. (...) He's really someone who should rather put all the others in a position to work together, find the right compromises. I believe that this is the function of the President of the European Council (...). I'm sure I'll do it worse than him. »

« As for Mr Barroso, you will understand that I cannot compare myself, all the same... On the Commission, it is a job where you have to constantly, with twenty-seven commissioners, find ways to bring together everyone. I think, moreover, when one has had the privilege, the happiness of being Head of State - which is an absolutely exciting and very difficult responsibility - (...), that any other responsibility does not seem appropriate to me to the succession of this function. »

Comments

The presence of Nicolas Sarkozy will inevitably be missed. Whatever opinions we may have on the man, on his domestic policy (which is not really a success), at European level, his dynamics, his voluntarism, his rants instilled in these meetings of the European Council , sometimes a little dull or a little morose, a bit of drama and action. On the merits, we cannot deny that the president remains fairly constant, in a defense of an industrial policy and a change of paradigm for Europe at the borders which he considers too open to all winds and too naive . A position, after all, quite classic for France. And that a successor, whoever he is, could easily endorse. On the other hand, the president's method, made of chin-twisting advances and such long delays, lacked consistency and certainly did not facilitate Europe's progress or its understanding, particularly with Europe. Germany or the Benelux countries; an essential agreement if we want to move forward at European level.