I tell fundamentalists that there is no question of them attacking our Republic's foundations.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

I think that the proposed constitution is one of the European legal documents with the strongest social dimension I have seen since I began following European issues.

A country like France now does two-thirds of its trade within the euro zone.

France has a very important relationship with Germany. But that does not mean that we agree about everything or that two of our universities or companies are not going to compete.

I tell fundamentalists that there is no question of them attacking our Republic's foundations.

The Republic is open and tolerant but also knows how and when to be firm and make its values respected.