The European policy of President Sarkozy

Policy
paper

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy indicated at various occasions that “France is back in Europe”. Change is expected in terms of policy reforms, people / institutions and implementation. However, a clear-cut “rupture” is generally difficult in foreign policy, and when looking closer at the various propositions of reforms, some elements of continuity with Sarkozy’s predecessor Jacques Chirac might be identified, though with a different policy style.  

During France’s presidency of the European Union (EU), the French population will judge the government’s capacity to influence EU reforms and to find compromises with European partners, among others with the Czech Republic, which will hold the next presidency in 2009.