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.

It's true that the question of Iraq divided Europe.

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.

Obviously, there is diversity, but Europe is a union of diversity.

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.

I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.