A New Vision for Tomorrow’s Europe 8th September 2006 Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels Click Here for the Summary of the Speech
“Il nous faut imaginer l'Europe là où il le faut, autant qu'il le faut, mais pas plus qu'il ne faut” Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s Interior Minister, and contender for next year’s presidential elections, outlined his vision of the future of Europe at Friends of Europe in Brussels. In his first major policy statement on EU issues he outlined to a capacity audience of international press, NGOs, EU officials and business leaders, a far-reaching reform agenda that is clearly calculated to rekindle a Europe-wide political debate on the EU’s future.  Mini-Treaty- Sarkozy proposes the adoption of mini treaty before 2008 which includes core elements from the rejected Constitution required to address the most critical institutional reforms. The text would include an extension of qualified majority voting by adopting decisions by the double majority of states and population, the nomination of a permanent President of the EU and a Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Turkey and the EU- Mr. Sarkozy strongly urged that Europe define its boundaries and that the absorption capacity of the EU is not infinite and remains opposed to a Turkish Candidacy for EU Membership.  Financing the EU- ‘The Union does not only require new regulations. It needs the basic finance as well.’ Sarkozy insists that Member States should retain sovereignty over taxation but that they should also make provisions for Europe in their national budgets.