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.

We believe that the European Union is facing a truly historic choice.

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.

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.

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

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

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.