C'est Magnifique ...

I have just been watching President Sarkozy's excellent speech to the British parliament.

I cannot imagine that any of the Presidents which France has had since I have been old enough to follow politics - Pompidou, Giscard, Mitterand, or Chirac - could possibly have made such a positive and friendly speech to a British audience.

A President in office in our nearest neighbour country who is so positive about what Britain has to offer is a potential great help to us in promoting a forward looking vision for Europe - and by that I mean a more decentralised Europe, not a stronger Federal superstate - and we should take advantage of that opportunity.

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