'Egotist' UK warned over EU presidency role

France has called on Europe’s capitals – and the UK EU presidency - to steer clear of divisive calls that could destroy the European Union.

The acrimonious collapse of a weekend EU summit has sparked calls for a rethink of the EU and seen the marginalisation of France and Germany.

Speaking on Sunday French Europe minister Catherine Colonna warned the UK and allies off pushing the EU into precipitate change.

“We need to think together, but debate openly, in a consensual way and without a break-up, on what we want for Europe in five years, ten years, 30 or 50 years,” she told French radio.

“We have to define together, and I mean together, all 25, what the Europe of tomorrow could be. All together and not at the will of a few.”

Paris is concerned that the UK may use London’s EU presidency, which begins in less than two weeks, to drive through an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ reform agenda.

“Britain, which takes over the presidency from July 1 will have a heavy responsibility to ensure that Europe gets back running after playing a part in the summit's failure.”

“Some have kept their national egos, while it is only the European spirit that enables one to find the solutions together,” she said.

“Certain countries held onto their national egos. Certain countries, notably Great Britain.”

British leader Tony Blair appealed, amid the ruins of a Brussels summit, on Saturday for “a fundamental debate about the future of Europe and its direction”.

Blair is set for a grilling at the hands of MEPs this Thursday when he appears before the European Parliament to outline the UK's EU presidency priorities.

UK foreign minister Jack Straw has polarised the debate, he regards, between old and new Europe.

“It is essentially a division between whether you want an EU that is able to cope with the future or whether you want a European Union that is trapped in the past. That is the fundamental change before us. And it is not one Europe can dodge,” he said.

The EU has been plunged into turmoil by French and Dutch rejections to the EU constitution.

Europe’s constitution crisis has highlighted conflicting outlooks over the EU future direction.

The UK, with allies in Sweden, the Netherlands and some new EU countries, is pushing for a shake up of Europe’s economy.

Others, such as France and Germany, are strongly associated with the European status quo.

Speaking as the EU summit collapsed last weekend, Luxembourg Prime Minister, and current EU presidency holder Jean-Claude Juncker highlighted the divide.

“During this [summit] there were two conceptions of Europe that clashed and will always clash.”

“There are those who, in fact without saying it, want the big market and nothing but the big market, a high level free trade zone, and those that want a politically integrated Europe,” he said.

“I have felt for a long time this debate would blow up one day.”

Referendum rejections in France and the Netherlands have put the EU’s constitution on ice until late 2007.

London, and other national capitals, have sensed a new weakness to France, especially, but also to Germany.

The French-German alliance has traditionally dominated the EU but both Paris and Berlin are politically weak.

French leader Jacques Chirac has been mortally wounded by his referendum defeat and is expected not to run in 2007 presidential elections.
His most likely successor Nicolas Sarkozy is said to be sympathetic to the UK’s vision of the EU – particularly on the economy.

German leader Gerhard Schroeder is expected to lose September elections, his country’s centre-right opposition have already publicly backed UK calls for reform.

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