Chirac takes EU debate to the people

By Caroline Wyatt
BBC Paris correspondent

French President Jacques Chirac has said it's too early to say whether France will hold a referendum on the European constitution.

He said he had no comment on Tony Blair's decision to offer one to the British people.

Chirac's rare appearance was seen as an answer to critics

Mr Chirac was speaking at a rare press conference at the Elysee Palace, ahead of European enlargement this Saturday.

This was Mr Chirac's first press conference focusing on Europe since 1998 - a clear sign that he felt the need to reassure France about the benefits of this weekend's enlargement.

Speaking amid the ornate splendour of the Salle des Fetes at the Elysee Palace, his mission appeared to be to ensure that the people of "old Europe" offer a warm welcome to the new Europeans this weekend.

'Giant step'

Mr Chirac described the entry into the EU of 10 new member states, most of them from Eastern Europe, as a giant step, and a chance to turn the EU into a major world economic power.

He went on to dismiss a recent opinion poll showing that the French themselves were among the most sceptical in Europe about the benefits of enlargement, with more than half saying they saw it negatively. He hadn't seen the poll, he said, and "it was probably not correct".

Mr Chirac's speech seemed aimed at calming fears among both the public and the ruling classes in France that their influence could be diluted in a larger Europe

Instead, he sought to reassure the French people that Europe was not a substitute for the nation state, but a federation which gave each member greater strength and power on the world stage, as well as benefiting each nation economically.

He sought to rekindle French enthusiasm for new members by reminding France how successful previous EU enlargements had been, saying this historic step would be a bonus to security and democracy for all Europeans.

Mr Chirac's speech seemed aimed at calming fears among both the public and the ruling classes in France that their influence could be diluted in a larger Europe, which includes many countries which look more to Washington than to Paris or Berlin for their lead.

During questions after his speech, the French president refused to be drawn on Mr Blair's decision to offer Britain a referendum on the EU constitution, saying that was a political choice and not for him to comment on.

Chirac demands Iraq pullout

Mr Chirac added that he didn't believe Britain would find itself having to leave Europe as a result.

He also emphasised that it was too soon to decide whether France would hold a referendum or ask the French Parliament to ratify the treaty instead.

"I will not be rushed into making that decision now," he stressed.

Turkish question

One issue that has become the focus of debate in both France and Germany is the potential candidacy of Turkey in a future enlargement, with the EU due to decide in December whether to start accession talks with Turkey.

Mr Chirac said that in the short term, Turkish entry was not desirable but that if it continued on a path of democratic and judicial reform, Turkish membership could be desirable in the long-term.

Today, it is urgent to give the Iraqis back their sovereignty - the problem is how President Chirac

But he warned that the negotiations for membership would be long and hard.

On other issues, Mr Chirac called for a swift and unambiguous transfer of power in Iraq, which he said had to be effectively overseen by the United Nations.

"Today, it is urgent to give the Iraqis back their sovereignty," said Mr Chirac. "The problem is how."

The French president's speech was a regal performance, followed by a rare one-hour question and answer session, in which Mr Chirac brushed aside any subsequent questions he preferred not to answer.

The French media has speculated that the president is under increasing pressure to talk directly to the electorate more often, following his ruling centre-right UMP party's rout in recent regional elections.

With European elections coming up on 13 June, he may be hoping to stave off another defeat for his increasingly unpopular government.