Jospin to call for 'socialist' EU

Jospin prefers to talk of a federation of nation states

By James Coomarasamy in Paris

The French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is due to deliver a keynote speech on his vision for Europe, calling for the European Union to adopt a far more traditionally socialist agenda.

The French Socialist leader wants the EU to act more vigorously in defence of worker's rights and to defend Europe's citizens against what France sees as the excesses of globalisation.

The German Chancellor calls for a more federal Europe

Aides to Mr Jospin have denied a British newspaper report that Prime Minister Tony Blair asked him to delay or tone down his speech for fear of the impact it would have on the British election campaign.

Mr Jospin has been under increasing pressure to spell out his vision of Europe - a year ahead of a French presidential election in which he is almost certain to be the Socialist Party's candidate.

Pioneer nations

Last year his likely rival, President Jacques Chirac, called for a European Constitution and for a pioneer group of nations to move faster towards European integration than others.

Mr Jospin is a pragmatist and, while his ministers say the speech will be audacious, they are emphasising its realistic, practical nature.

The French prime minister is no supporter of the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's call for a more federal Europe.

Mr Jospin prefers to talk of a federation of nation states.

Although his speech may suggest some tinkering with the EU's institutions, there will be nothing like the radical overhaul which the German leader recently proposed.