Sarkozy stimulated by Irish "No": - "A call to build Europe otherwise. Difficult, but Fascinating !"

Sarkozy stimulated by Irish "No" challenge : - "It's a call to change and build Europe otherwise. Not later, but now. It won't be easy, but it's fascinating !"

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* Paris, Elysee, June 14, 2008.

Forthcoming EU Chairman, French President Nikolas Sarkozy, created a surprise by declaring that the challenge of the Irish "No" to the EU Treaty, stimulates his belief that we must immediately change the way Europe is built.

A difficult but fascinating task, that he intends to accomplish in the next 6 Months, during which he will analyse developments 3 times to EU Parliament in Strasbourg, on July, October and December 2008.

But Agenda obliged to give a first reply to Questions raised by the Irish Referendum, on the sidelines of a Press Conference with USA President GWBush, in Paris' Elysee palace, Saturday :

Sarkozy's reply was twofold :

First, the Franco-German position is that EU must make sure "that the Irish Incident does not become a Crisis". Ratification must continue, after 18 EU Member States, also to the rest, as UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised.

But, pointing at deeper causes, Sarkozy also criticized bureaucratic "sabotage" of Europe's "founding fathers" original dream. The move reminded his Historic February and July 2007 speaches in Strasbourg on Europe's future, joining criticism to a call for EU's Renaissance, which now became urgent :

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- "This "NO" is another difficulty" for the forthcoming French EU Presidency (July - December 2008). If anyone prefers easy jobs, he'd better change immediately", he started.

"But, now, the Irish "NO" is a political reality. The question is not whether we like it or not. It's a reality. The Irish People have spoken. We must accept it."

"Regarding that, we think, together with (German Chancellor) Mrs Merkel, that the Ratification process should continue. Since 18 EU Member States already ratified, the remaining States should also be able to go on with the ratification. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told me that he intends to do that."

"So that the Irish incident does not become a crisis".

"Thus, the 1st point is that ratification should continue".

- "But, the 2nd point is that we (EU) must think (reflect), all together. It didn't happen merely by chance. It's not a surprise. I spoke with the Irish PM."

"Many Europeans do not agree with the way Europe is built at this moment. We must take this into account. And it must be done very fast. We must change the way to make Europe.

"The European Idea is the greatest idea since our founding fathers, 50 years ago. Nobody has any right to sabotage it."

"We must do it in another way. How ? Europe is something made in order to protect people. But many Europeans think that Europe worries.

"We must take it into account, not in 6 Months, but immediately. I intend to take together initiatives." "I am thinking, f.ex., to a European policy on Immigration. To a European reply to the endless augmentation of Oil prices".

"We have, I think, a duty to serve more efficiently Europeans' everyday life".

"I see the Irish "No" as a Call to do more, but otherwise. To find solutions together.

"This will not make things easy for the French (EU) Presidency.

"But, it is exciting, fascinating !.. ", he concluded

 TOPICAL HISTORY LESSONS..

    US President GWBush, fracefuly reminded that America would not have been what  it is today, if France had not helped her in the Past, as USA helped Western Europe during and at the aftermath the 2nd World War. 

      But he could also remind Sarkozy and his EU friends that USA has already faced, on its road towards integration, not only fierce Political Discussions in order to create a Federation, but even Secession, and Civil War...

     Compared to all that, the Irish "No" looks simply as a drop in the ocean..