About: Sarkozy
French cabinet under fire over Roma expulsions
Rights groups have accused France’s Socialist leaders of abandoning electoral promises by continuing the arbitrary expulsions of Eastern European Roma that were begun under former President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Europe faces 3 national elections on ‘Super Sunday’
On Sunday (6 May), the French will elect a new president, the Greeks will hold general elections, and EU hopeful Serbia will designate their new president, Parliament and local authorities. The stakes appear high not only for the individual countries concerned but also for Europe as a whole.
Unions protest austerity at May Day rallies
Hundreds of thousands of workers across southern Europe protested against spending cuts at May Day rallies yesterday (1 May), before weekend elections in Greece and France where voters are expected to punish leaders for austerity.
French campaign takes nasty turn
French President Nicolas Sarkozy dismissed a report that deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi sought to fund his 2007 campaign, saying it was a ploy by Socialist opponents to distract from the public reappearance of disgraced former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Far right looms over Hollande-Sarkozy duel
Far-right candidate Marline Le Pen scored the biggest surprise in the first round of France's presidential election, winning 18% of votes yesterday (22 April) in a showing that could tip the runoff between Socialist favourite François Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Sarkozy breaks ‘taboo’ by calling for ECB debate
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, facing the first round of elections this weekend, said in a campaign speech yesterday (15 April) that he wanted to open a debate on extending the mandate of the European Central Bank (ECB) to support economic growth.
Delors points the finger at Europe’s ‘killers’
Jacques Delors, the former European Commission president widely seen as one of the 'fathers of Europe', said yesterday (28 March) that EU leaders were "killing Europe", replacing the community method by inter-governmental solutions and nationalism, with the complicity of the Union's institutions.
French official wants wall at Greek-Turkish border
The top French official responsible for immigration said the EU should build a wall along the 130-kilometre Greek-Turkish border, comparing it to the one between the USA and Mexico.
Sarkozy stokes nationalism on campaign trail
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the champion of European integration during his country's EU presidency in 2008, has appeared to turn a cold shoulder to Europe in campaign stump speeches laced with nationalism as he heads towards a first-round election in April.
Merkozy duo plan Greek trusteeship
As Greek bailout talks reached a dramatic turn yesterday (6 February), French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested creating an escrow account to partially reimburse the country's creditors in case of default. EURACTIV France reports.
France backpedals on Armenian genocide
French lawmakers appealed to their country's highest court yesterday (31 January) to overturn a law that makes it illegal to deny that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide.
25 EU countries sign up to German-led fiscal treaty
EU leaders agreed yesterday (30 January) a treaty on tighter fiscal rules to preserve the eurozone from new crises. But the Czech Republic said it would not sign it for now due to ratification difficulties, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country is unlikely to ratify before the 6 May presidential election.
Socialists slam ’empty talk’ about growth, jobs
Socialist leaders warned conservative politicians meeting in Brussels for an EU summit today (30 January) about "empty talk" when claiming they support policies to boost jobs and growth.
Turkey threatens France with diplomatic war
France approved yesterday (23 January) a bill making it illegal to deny that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide, sparking angry retaliation from Turkey and threatening a "total rupture" of diplomatic ties.
Analyst: Merkozy micromanages EU institutions
The latest document released by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in preparation of the 30 January European summit is a sad example of micromanagement of the EU Commission and Council, a prominent Brussels-based political analyst told EURACTIV.
Turkey pressures France to stop Armenian genocide bill
As the French Senate rushes to consider a bill that would penalise denial of the massacre of over 1 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, Turkey is lobbying to stop the effort, warning of economic consequences.
World leaders gather around Europe’s sickbed
With a Greek economic crisis matched only by its internal political turmoil, leaders from the world's 20 leading nations scrambled yesterday (3 November) in Cannes to insulate themselves from the next most European vulnerable economy, Italy.
Papandreou hard-pressed over euro referendum
Greece will receive no bailout money until it decides whether it wants to stay in the eurozone or not, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy told embattled Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou last night (2 November).
Sarkozy defends EU summit’s results at home
French President Nicolas Sarkozy outlined the results of the eurozone summit in a rare hour-long interview on French television last night (27 October). The President skillfully slalomed through difficult debates, such as China's emerging role and new austerity measures in the face of weaker than expected French growth. EURACTIV France reports.
Paris and Berlin announce second EU summit
In addition to the EU and eurozone twin summits on Sunday (23 October), another summit will take place "at the latest on Wednesday", France and Germany said yesterday (20 October) after a tense day of hesitation and conflicting announcements.
Sarkozy takes lead as Middle East peace broker
Riding on France's new status in the Arab world following the Libya War, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called yesterday (21 September) for an "intermediate stage" in the recognition of Palestine by the United Nations.
Erasmus could not fly today, says programme’s father
The Erasmus progamme, which allows thousands of students every year to study in other EU countries, could not be launched today, said the founder of the initiative, Domenico Lenarduzzi, in an interview with EURACTIV.
French government, regions clash over EU budget
France's regions are defending a stronger EU regional policy budget, pitting themselves against Nicolas Sarkozy's government which would prefer to reduce the bloc's so-called 'cohesion' spending in favour of the Common Agricultural Policy. EURACTIV France reports.