President Jacques Chirac yesterday expressed his "full confidence" in the ability of the Irish presidency of the EU "to present an accurate evaluation of the situation at the European Council in March, with a view to reaching an agreement on a constitutional treaty," writes Lara Marlowe in Paris
The French head of state promised France's "full support" for the Irish endeavour. But he again spoke of the formation of "pioneer groups", a euphemism for the "two-speed Europe" so strongly opposed by Dublin. His vision of a multi-speed Europe is unlikely to please the Taoiseach.
"We know well that within a Europe of 25, and soon 27 or more, everyone cannot move at the same speed," Mr Chirac said. "The more hesitant ones must not slow down those who are determined to go faster and further. Germany and France will naturally be at the heart of these pioneer groups."
The Taoiseach is consulting other EU leaders to assess the possibility of reaching a compromise on the treaty, which was not concluded in December because of disagreement over the distribution of power within the Council. The president of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, and the German and French leaders have all said that failure to conclude a treaty could make it necessary for some countries to forge ahead.
Mr Chirac's New Year's speech to the diplomatic corps did nothing to elucidate what other Europeans are calling "the French enigma": whether Paris sees completion of the treaty as an urgent matter, and whether it is willing to compromise further on the draft constitution prepared by the former president, Mr Giscard d'Estaing. Mr Chirac stressed that the new constitution must make it possible for "clear and legitimate majorities" to take decisions within the EU.
The term "pioneer group" was first used by Mr Chirac in a speech before the Bundestag in June 2000. In the same address, he suggested the group could have a secretariat - in other words, its own institutions. As pointed out by Mr Daniel Vernet of Le Monde, the French leader softened the concept after last month's summit in Brussels, instead speaking of "pioneer groups" in the plural. The linguistic shift appears to be an attempt to dispel fears of a Franco-German and Benelux "directorate" of Europe.
The French President has always stressed that this "pioneer"group or groups would remain open to others who wanted to join later. "I make the wish that we be able to advance in this path with the other founding countries, but also with Great Britain and all those, old and new member countries, who want to give more soul and strength to Europe," he said yesterday. Progress in defence co-operation strengthened his conviction "that Europe is above all a question of political will," he added.
France has long been perceived to be reticent about European enlargement, mainly because it enhances Germany's influence in the EU.
France's relations with former eastern bloc countries, particularly Poland, have been tense, especially since Mr Chirac scolded the candidate countries for signing a letter in support of Washington last February. But yesterday, Mr Chirac hailed the admission of 10 new members on May 1st.