Strauss-Kahn wants a 'sustainable' European project 

A "sustainable" Europe
Strauss-Kahn explained that his group undertook a study of the 'sustainability' of the European project instead of concentrating on the European sustainable development strategy in the stricter sense. As to that strategy, the former French minister sees the need for a programme to organise the "ecological convergence" based on a number of environmental indicators just like the EU did with its economic and monetary convergence criteria. He underlined the need to complement the calls for a 'supercommissioner' for competitiveness and industry with a 'sustainable development council' in which NGOs and institutions would be able to express themselves.

Financial perspective: the six are not realistic
The Strauss-Kahn report has given support to the Commission's position on the financial perspective against the letter of the so-called "gang of six" (six Member States who want to cap the EU's long-term budget provisions 2007-2013 to one per cent of GNP). He even thinks the EU budgetary plan needs to be increased to two per cent. "What is not realistic is the position of governments who, on the one hand are concerned about the Lisbon agenda, and, on the other hand, are not willing to provide the EU with the necessary means," the former minister underlined.

CAP still needs further reform but will not cost any less
Asked by EurActiv on his proposal to reduce the CAP (Common Agriculture Policy) expenses to 20 per cent of the budget, the French politician was keen to make clear that under the two per cent scenario, the CAP expenditures would "mechanically" be reduced to 20 per cent of GNP. He stated that "the agriculture policy [of the EU] needs to be adapted further", but doubted whether it would cost less.

Industrial policy needs European champions
Mr Strauss-Kahn is in favour of creating European industry champions, even if that means being less strict concerning competition rules. "The rules on competition policy should not systematically get the upper hand over operations which are estimated to be needed". Asked by EurActiv if in that case, the EU would need a "Eurokartellamt" [a European cartel office], Mr Strauss-Kahn responded: "Competition is no doubt one of the areas, along with research, where an agency is a more appropriate structure than the institution which currently exists."

The EU's final borders
On the final frontiers of the Union, Strauss-Kahn has quite surprising views. He is clearly in favour of Turkey joining the EU and insists that the EU should also take its responsibility concerning the countries around the Mediterranean: "What I'm sure about is that Europe is like a magnet. If you wanted to use a big piece of chalk to trace it out on a map, the chalk wouldn't go inside the Bosphorus straits or inside the Gibraltar straits. The chalk would necessarily encompass all the roots of our European civilisation, ie the Mediterranean."

He goes on to say that "that of course implies very different levels of political integration. There are countries who will not or who cannot integrate further. In the way the world shapes up in 40 or 50 years time in one scenario, the Maghreb [a group of North West African countries] wouldn't have its own autonomous existence. And so we have responsibility for it." As to the eastern border of the EU, Mr Strauss-Kahn states: "My personal conviction is that Europe's sphere of influence will end where it meets China's sphere of influence".