Sarkozy vows to 'put politics back into Europe'[fr][de] 

The Lisbon Treaty will restore France's "influence" and ability to make her "points of view" and "values" heard, the president added in a short TV address on Sunday 10 February.

"From now on, there will be more democracy, more accountability in Europe's functioning," Sarkozy said, pointing to the fact that the treaty allows EU decisions to be "better scrutinised by national parliaments".

Ratification will become official on 14 February following its publication in the official journal, according to AFP, citing Sarkozy's office.

"Now the issue is to put politics back into Europe," the French president went on, saying the issue was to prevent Europe being "abandoned" to "automatic rules that leave no room for political decision and accountability."

"We must be able to talk about everything just like in any democracy: of our currency which is not a taboo subject, of trade policy, of industrial policy, of reciprocity in competition matters or the excesses of financial capitalism."

Sarkozy said he wanted to put those issues on the table during the French Presidency of the EU in the second half of the year. "I will propose to our partners as a priority to work on a sustainable development strategy, a common immigration policy, a European defence and an overhaul of agricultural policy."

The overhaul of the Common Agricultural Policy, which makes up around 44% of EU spending, will be a major bargaining chip for France when negotiations open on the EU's future spending priorities. French farmers are currently the largest beneficiaries of the CAP, absorbing some 22% of EU agricultural spending in 2004.

Sarkozy already opened the door to CAP reform in September last year, indicating an openness toward a revision of EU spending priorities. However, he also insisted on highlighting the "strategic dimension" of agricultural policy for both France and the EU (EurActiv 12/09/07).