Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.

There have been major disagreements within the European Union.

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.

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

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

The United States, for a French citizen, is a friend, an ally, to whom we owe, along with most Europeans, our freedom.

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.