I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.

I am a believer, but I affirm that in public buildings the law of the Republic overrides religious rules.

France has a very important relationship with Germany. But that does not mean that we agree about everything or that two of our universities or companies are not going to compete.

Europe started out with six countries; three small countries and three large countries.

But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them.

A country like France now does two-thirds of its trade within the euro zone.

It's a different outlook, and one that I understand. When you are a former member of the Warsaw Pact, when you have lived behind the Berlin Wall, when you have experienced the communist systems that existed in these countries, for them, the West represents hope.

Prohibiting a visible religious sign, which isn't a manifestation of militancy, would look like a fight against religions.

Obviously, there is diversity, but Europe is a union of diversity.

Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.

It's true that the question of Iraq divided Europe.

It's important to show that, while authorizing the demonstrations and promoting diversity of opinion, the Republic can't allow itself to be undermined from within.

I was a Member of the European Parliament for a period of time and I saw a lot of European laws and treaties.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

I think that the proposed constitution is one of the European legal documents with the strongest social dimension I have seen since I began following European issues.