Franco-German boost for EU reform

Chirac and Schroeder: Agreement on EU reforms and defence

France and Germany say they are broadly agreed on the reforms needed in the European Union to smooth the way towards its enlargement.

President Jacques Chirac of France and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, made the declaration after summit talks in the German Rhineland city of Mainz.

The meeting was billed as an effort to reassert the Franco-German alliance as the driving force behind European integration.

The Franco-German motor is running well

Jacques Chirac

France and Germany want to reduce the role of the national veto, allowing more decisions at ministerial meetings to be taken by majority vote - a change opposed by the United Kingdom.

There are also plans to give big states more voting power in return for reducing the number of commissioners they send to the European Commission.

No reform details

But the two leaders did not release a written statement on EU reform, in an apparent effort to avoid talk of any grand Franco-German initiative that might irk the other 13 states.

French troops in Kosovo: Balkans stability was on the agenda

"On the substantive issues... Germany and France are as one, without exception," Chancellor Schroeder told a news conference after the talks.

"The foreign ministers need to work on the details, but as far as basic policy on pushing ahead with institutional reform... Germany and France are in accord."

France begins a six-month presidency of the EU on 1 July.

President Chirac said the summit was "an occasion to note that, when it has to, the alliance of France and Germany works immaculately".

"The Franco-German motor is running well."

He praised a landmark call for the long-term goal of a federal Europe, made by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer a month ago.

He said Mr Fischer had launched a debate at an opportune time, and it was "a very good vision of Europe".

Balkans conference

Mr Schroeder backed an initiative from Mr Chirac to host jointly a summit with former Yugoslav republics.

The two sides said the Balkans could learn from their own post-war reconciliation.

In a joint statement, France and Germany said they were "convinced that their model of friendly exchanges and contacts at all levels of society could be applied beneficially in South-East Europe".

France and Germany plan to develop a European spy satellite system

On military issues, the two countries are to develop a European spy satellite system and a European military transport plane to be built by Airbus.

The satellite system would address deficiencies in European reconnaissance.

The Airbus A400M, which still has no prototype, would have twice the capacity and fly 30% faster than the C-130s it would replace.

The summit came after a difficult period in Franco-German relations.

Last year the French felt snubbed when Chancellor Schroeder and the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, signed a joint economic policy paper.

But since then Britain's perceived foot-dragging over the Euro has helped revive the Franco-German alliance.

Visegrad Four

The Mainz summit coincided with a meeting in Prague between the prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

They are keen to use their regional grouping, the Visegrad Four, as a showcase to strengthen their bids to join the European Union.

The Czech Prime Minister, Milos Zeman, has suggested that Germany join the Visegrad group.

There is a growing perception throughout Central Europe that the EU is losing interest in eastwards expansion.

The fact that no concrete date for enlargement has been put forward is causing particular frustration.