From two to six: France rethinks EU strategy

Paris is to look beyond the “exclusive” EU Franco-German axis to London, Rome, Madrid and Warsaw, says the country’s finance minister.

In a newspaper interview Nicholas Sarkozy – the man many tip to be the next French president – hints at new alliances in an enlarged Europe.

His comments signal a step-change in French policy after a series of bruising euro rows over the EU constitution and a candidate for European Commission president – battles Paris has not won.

“I believe in the importance of the Franco-German axis… but I think this dialogue should not be exclusive,” he told FT Europe and Les Echos.

Over the last year Iraq, divergent views on the scope of EU decision-making, voting rights and Guy Verhofstadt’s bid to be Brussels chief have deeply divided France and Germany from the UK, Poland, Italy and Spain.

But these are national capitals Sarkozy now sees as critical for a France – perhaps with the son of a Hungarian exile at the helm – looking to make new friends and win greater EU influence.

“In reality there are today in Europe six countries – France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Poland – which have between 40 million and 80m inhabitants each and which will have the same problems to manage,” he said.

“I think that in the future these six countries must work together to a considerable degree.”

In another break from orthodoxy, Sarkozy is a keen fan of the UK economic model, and he has been feted in London.

Speaking to EUpolitix.com in May British Europe minister Denis MacShane indicated that London’s special Sarkozy relationship would be key as the EU gears up growth policy in the autumn.

“Mr Sarkozy new economics minister… is re-examining the advantages of the 35-hour week and asking serious questions about that policy,” he said.

“He is looking at tax cuts, very much adopting a pragmatic ‘get the economy going again’ British approach.”

But the UK will not be impressed with Sarkozy’s view that existing euro members should be able to decide on new members of the European single currency – rather than the status quo of all EU leaders.

“Although I am in disagreement with my English friends here, the Eurogroup should decide who enters the club and who are non-members. This is no small matter,” he said.

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