Interviews given by M. Gérard Errera, French Ambassador, to ITV News, 20.06.05 (excerpts)
Q. – The Prime Minister says today: “It’s not important to do a deal, it’s important to do the right deal”. Why does France believe that an important opportunity was missed?
THE AMBASSADOR – I think that the real issue at the summit was financing the enlargement of the EU. We were ready, with many other countries, to take our part in the effort, an important part, in order that the deal could be made. As you know, it was turned down. And it’s a pity, it’s a shame.
Q. – Now the Prime Minister says that Europe needs to address the needs of the people and in effect he’s saying that all Europe is out of touch.
THE AMBASSADOR – Everybody agrees that Europe has to answer the needs of the people. But what European people are calling for is not more talk, it’s action. Action to give more to education, more to research and, by the way, in this budget which was turned down, the education and research budget was increased by 33%. And what Europe also needs is to have more means to confront the wider world issues. So this is what Europe needs today, and has to need today.
Q. – Listening to you, many viewers may think “What on earth is it that France and Britain do disagree about, then?” because you are speaking in the same way as the Prime Minister.
THE AMBASSADOR – I don’t think that we should make the issues a disagreement between two particular countries. Let’s not talk about wars, about anything of that kind. Let’s not play the blame game. I think the job of the Presidency is to bring people together, especially in a time of crisis like that. It’s not to impose views, especially when those views are not shared by the majority. It’s not to divide, it’s not to play the blame game, it is to bring people together in order that we can act as a team. This is where Europe is strong.
Q. – Do you fear Britain is attracted by the idea of a great confrontation with France in the future?
THE AMBASSADOR – No, I hope not, although it is not exceptional that in times of difficulty for British diplomacy, the blame game is played. (…)
Q. – Mr Ambassador, Tony Blair says it is simple: you can have a cut in the British rebate if France, a rich country, will take a cut in the subsidies for farmers. Isn’t that reasonable?
THE AMBASSADOR – Well it might be reasonable in the minds of some. Unfortunately, it doesn’t correspond to the reality. The reality is that the Common Agricultural Policy has evolved enormously in the past 10-15 years. It was 70% of the budget, it is now 40%, it will later be 30%. Export subsidies, which were 30% of the budget, are now 5% of the budget. The content of the policy, which is now more environmentally-friendly, has changed. All that has changed and will continue to change. At the same time, I don’t think that hanging onto a perk for 21 years which has lost its justification is something that you can call modern.
Q. – Why is the rebate a perk and the Common Agricultural Policy is not?
THE AMBASSADOR – The Common Agricultural Policy is a common policy which answers the needs of feeding the people and also the need for Europe to be an important exporting country and to defend the environment. The British rebate was justified, 21 years ago. The justifications are gone, the rebate is still there