Rocky start to French presidency

President Sarkozy has clashed with the EU Commission over trade

President Nicolas Sarkozy has admitted that France's presidency of the EU is off to a bumpy start.

He was speaking after the Polish president said he would not ratify the EU reform treaty, and amid a row with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Ahead of a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe Mr Sarkozy called this a "somewhat difficult environment" in which to assume leadership of the EU.

France has an ambitious agenda for its six months in charge.

The BBC's Mark Mardell says Paris has an almost indecent number of "priorities" - though he notes that what governments set out to do during their EU presidency, and what they actually achieve, are often very different.

We have each signed it and we should take the consequences of our signatures Nicolas Sarkozy Why Poland has broken ranks Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty At-a-glance: French EU priorities

Poland's President Lech Kaczynski cast a shadow over France's first day in the hot seat, saying it would be "pointless" to sign the Lisbon Treaty for the time being, following its defeat in an Irish referendum last month.

Mr Sarkozy criticised his stance, saying: "We negotiated the treaty with the Polish president and his brother. The president signed it himself... It is a question of honesty and we have each signed it and we should take the consequences of our signatures."

The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Kaczynski's comments are unsurprising as he is opposed to deeper European integration.

However, he is in conflict with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has said the EU will find a way to bring the treaty into force.

President Sarkozy's real priority will be dealing with the aftermath of the Irish No Mark Mardell's Europe Can French flair beat EU blues? France set for lively EU presidency

Mr Tusk said: "I hope the president will reconsider this position. I have no doubt that the treaty's ratification is in Poland's best interest."

France's Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, said ratification of the treaty by its various members should continue while French and Irish leaders discussed how to address the Irish No.

Trade row

Meanwhile, the spat between Mr Sarkozy and Mr Mandelson continued.

The British commissioner urged EU states to unite behind his push for a world trade deal, saying he was being undermined by repeated criticism from the French president.

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"It poses a great problem because as the negotiator of the EU, I need the unity of the member states behind me," Mr Mandelson told reporters as he joined events in Paris.

Mr Sarkozy had accused Mr Mandelson of preparing to sell out European farmers in his search for a world trade deal.

France has fiercely defended the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and its subsidies for farmers against any reforms in the name of free trade.

France has set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment and defence for its presidency.

Mr Sarkozy also said he would also work for a Europe-wide cut in value-added tax on restaurant bills and oil to help consumers cope with soaring crude prices.

But his call for the EU to cap VAT on fuel has received little support from other member states.