Chirac: Don't be afraid of Europe[fr][de] 

Faced with polls that persistently show a growing French 'No' vote to the EU Constitution, President Chirac delivered a prime time TV plea for the French people not to do the counterproductive thing as it would have a 'boomerang effect'. 

Taking at times a schoolmasterly and then an emotional approach before a studio audience of 18-30 year olds, the president had several chances to hammer in the message that domestic political problems ranging from student grants and poverty to police would not be solved by a 'No' vote.    

He said a 'No' would stop the further integration of Europe and further expressed his surprise at the impression of fear among the young, urging them not to be afraid of Europe in a turn of phrase that echoed the words of the late Pope John Paul II.

French media remained largely unimpressed by Chirac's performance with some commentators calling it a 'missed opportunity'.