Chirac's EU treaty plea: Excerpts

The following are excerpts from his speech.

Mr Chirac: EU treaty will make France "stronger in Europe"

On 29 May, each of us will have to make a choice in responsibility and full conscience. Above all, we must not answer the wrong question.

The decision before us goes far beyond traditional political divides. It is neither of the Left nor of the Right.

It is not a question of saying yes or no to the government. It is a question of your future, that of your children, the future of France, the future of Europe.

With this treaty, what are the questions that arise, the questions you are asking yourselves?

Does the treaty make France stronger in Europe? Yes, our country will have more influence. The number of votes we will have at European councils will increase by 50 per cent. This is a significant asset, which will allow France to defend its interests and to remain one of the engines of Europe.

'Social progress'

Does the treaty reinforce our social model? Yes, because it puts social progress and full employment at the heart of all of Europe's policies and it is a key advance which will pull all countries upwards. With the economic and social development of new member states, it provides a strong answer to the risk of relocation...

QUICK GUIDE The EU constitution

Does the treaty make Europe more democratic, more respectful of nations, closer to citizens? Yes, because it clearly states that Europe can intervene when - and only when - it is more efficient. Yes, because it gives more power to the European Parliament, to national parliaments and to citizens, in other words, to each and everyone of you.

And I also wanted you to make the sovereign decision on the question of Europe's borders. The French constitution was accordingly amended, and in the future, no new membership - and I am thinking of Turkey in particular - will move forward without your approval through a referendum.

Will the treaty provide the Europeans with new kinds of protection? Yes, since we are crossing vital thresholds - joint defence, the fight against terrorism and organised crime, the environment, protection against pandemics, border controls and the fight against illegal immigration...

Risk of division

Rejection of the treaty would be seen by the Europeans as a "no" to Europe. It would open up a period of division, of doubt, of uncertainty.

CHANGING ATTITUDES 4 March: Voting date named 14 April: Chirac TV debate 3 May: 1st Chirac TV address 26 May: 2nd Chirac TV address

"It is an illusion to believe that Europe would start again with renewed vigour with a new plan, because there is no other plan. Europe would be at a standstill, searching for an impossible consensus. The world would continue to move ahead at an accelerated pace...

Do you believe we could defend the Common Agricultural Policy - of which French farmers are the major beneficiary - with as much influence? Do you believe we could defend our social model or our cultural exception as strongly if France is weakened, if the French-German tandem is weakened?

If Europe is divided, those who have an ultra-free market concept of Europe would gain the upper hand.

Think of the responsibility if France, a European founder country, took the risk of shattering the union of our continent.

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