FRANCE: The German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder yesterday joined President Jacques Chirac's campaign to persuade the French public to ratify the European constitutional treaty in a referendum on May 29th.
After bringing their governments together for their fifth joint cabinet meeting, the two leaders made similar speeches to mark the 50th anniversary of the Franco-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"European unification is a unique success in the history of our continent," Mr Schröder said. "Without France, without Franco-German reconciliation and our shared conviction in a strong and social Europe, there would be no European project."
Both France and Germany were inspired by "the European social model", which placed man at the centre of its preoccupations, the chancellor continued.
Addressing allegations from opponents of the treaty, he said that "economic productivity and social solidarity are not opposed to each other - they are the two sides of the same coin".
France has suffered from 10 per cent unemployment since 1983. Unemployment in Germany is currently 12 per cent.
Mr Chirac said the constitution embodied "the ambition of a strong, dynamic Europe to carry out policies of active growth and create more jobs and fight more efficiently against the curse of unemployment".
Both men used the term "social market economy" to describe their vision of an EU that pursues full employment and social progress.
"Equating the constitution with the erosion of social rights is purely and simply false," Mr Schröder said.
"Neither President Chirac nor myself would ever have given our assent if this was the case."
As a socialist, Mr Schröder may hold some sway over left-wing French voters, a majority of whom tell pollsters they will vote No to the treaty.
"France needs Europe, and Europe needs France," Mr Schröder pleaded at the end of his speech. At a press conference earlier in the day, he said: "I remain confident that the Yes vote will win."
An opinion poll published by Le Figaro yesterday showed a three-point drop in the No vote, from 55 per cent to 52 per cent. The main reason was a significant increase in the number of right-wing voters who intend to vote Yes.
Mr Chirac said the constitutional treaty was "the daughter of 1789, the depository of the ideals of the French revolution, and also the daughter of 1989, of the fall of the Berlin Wall and of the unity of our continent, at last reconciled thanks to enlargement".
He emphasised Europe's shared identity and the values of democracy, human rights, freedom, equality, solidarity, and tolerance. The EU believes in the primacy of international law and recognises the authority of the United Nations, he added.
"We need [ the constitution] because we want to build Europe on values and not only on markets," Mr Chirac said. "Without social and environmental guarantees, without equality of opportunity, without strong public services available to all, there is no social progress possible."
In an apparent allusion to Turkey's application for EU membership, he said that "no nation can accede to the Union if it does not scrupulously respect our principles". Mr Chirac was alone in France in supporting EU negotiations with Turkey.
His supporters now argue that the constitutional treaty will make it more difficult for Turkey to join the European Union because stringent criteria will discourage Ankara.
In the press conference with Mr Schröder, Mr Chirac warned that, if his country votes No on May 29th, "France will find itself on the platform while the train passes us by."
Mr Chirac said opponents of the treaty would bear responsibility for having interrupted 50 years of European construction. The French and German leaders discussed a controversial EU draft directive on liberalising the EU's services sector.