France has 'ambition of being modest', says Kouchner[fr][de] 

Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 15 July, Kouchner made "modesty" a key word of his speech. 

"The French Presidency has the ambition of being modest," he said, humorously recognising that "modesty and listening are probably not part of our reputation". 

"We cannot conceive our work without close relations with you," the French minister added, saying that being close to MEPs was part of a bigger effort by the Presidency to be closer to Europe's citizens. 

The most critical questions to Kouchner were asked by Green MEPs, while other political groups obviously saw no reason to challenge the presidency's positions on ideological grounds. 

Two successful initiatives already 

Kouchner outlined two initiatives of the French Presidency which he already sees as a success – the launch of a Mediterranean Union (EurActiv 14/07/08) and what he called "a beginning of a Pact on Immigration" (EurActiv 7/07/08). He also disclosed the names of all the candidates to host the secretariat of the Mediterranean Union: Tunis, Morocco, Marseille, Malta and Barcelona. 

Roadmap for the Middle East 

The French foreign minister dedicated more time to speaking about initiatives where success is less evident, such as Europe's role in the Middle East conflict. 

"We have to find a place for the EU in the peace process," he said, inviting MEPs to give their input to a roadmap, which he said the Union will propose to its partners. "We have no intention of doing this against the Americans," he stressed, hinting that the Union was bearing a greater responsibility at a time when the US is in the process of changing its administration. 

"The world is counting on us," Kouchner said. Regarding the participation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Paris summit on 13 July, Kouchner spent a long time explaining that "you cannot make peace without shaking hands with your opponents". He added that Israel had congratulated Paris for inviting Assad and no country participating in the summit voiced any opposition. 

Special language with Russia 

Kouchner said Europe must follow the situation in Georgia with the utmost attention, since in his words this was the "most dangerous, most explosive place as far as neighbourhood relations are concerned". 

He added that the Union needed to find a "special language" with Russia and be able to send out effective messages, although in his words, Moscow often uses "expressions which are shocking to us". He also said "we cannot conceive the EU (external) relations without good relations with Russia". Again, he stressed that relations with Russia need a "roadmap", using the same expression for a new basis for the relations with the USA following the presidential elections in November. 

Irish to find the solution 

On the situation following the negative referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, Kouchner said it is up to the Irish to find a solution. He added that the Irish 'no' was not a defeat for the Irish, but rather a defeat for Europe. The main problem, as he saw it, was that "Europeans cannot understand the way in which Europe is precious to them".