Franse premier wil unie met Duitsland op sleutelgebieden (en)

The New French prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, has called for an economically strong and united Europe, and for a union between Germany and France.

"We have a strong currency [the euro]. Let's give ourselves a strong economic policy. Let's give ourselves the means to defend a European [economic] preference, just like all the other big economic blocs", Mr de Villepin said on Wednesday during his inauguration speech before French parliament.

"Let's open new perspectives, such as fiscal harmonisation or a union with Germany in some areas we would have chosen together", he added.

The call is likely to prompt fears in certain areas that both countries may try to establish an "inner core" Europe.

The prime minister also reiterated president Jacques Chirac's position that France would "keep its entire place" within the EU despite the rejection of the EU Constitution by its citizens, and that it would "respect all its commitments".

He also insisted that the French did not say No to Europe, as they "are not afraid of Europe, they want to know what the rules are and participate in their elaboration".

"They want to know where it [Europe] goes. The rapid enlargement of the continent surprised our compatriots. Let's give ourselves the time to better know each other and build together with the new countries", he also said.

"The adventure does not end. Our European dream will only be stronger after the obstacles", he concluded.

Mr de Villepin's speech convinced 363 MPs to vote for him while 178 voted against.

Fighting unemployment

But the greatest part of Mr de Villepin's speech, which lasted almost an hour, was devoted to a programme to fight unemployment in France.

Unemployment in the country has reached 10.2 percent, and was quoted as one of the main reasons for the French rejection of the EU Constitution last week.

Mr de Villepin has repeatedly claimed that decreasing unemployment will be his main priority during his term.

He called for "action" both from the government and the employers, but also from the unemployed.

Mr de Villepin avoided his usual flights of rhetoric during his speech and gave a concrete programme to increase employment, the French press remarks.

He tried to adopt a balance between deregulation - to please the right - and appeals for social solidarity - to appease the left.

Amongst other things, a €1,000 state bonus will be given to any unemployed person taking a job after having been unemployed at least for a year, under the minister's plan.

He also announced an extra €4.5 billion to the budget to achieve the programme's goal.

The French still dubious

Meanwhile, a CSA poll published today shows that 51 percent of the French think that the new government will be "neither better nor worse" than the previous one, as far as social policy is concerned.

Twenty nine percent think the de Villepin government will do better, eight percent think it will be worse and 12 percent gave no answer.

And a CSA poll published on Tuesday (7 June) showed that 79 percent of those questioned did not believe the new government will improve the situation in the country within 100 days, as promised by Dominique de Villepin.

But the French president is one of the least popular politicians in the country currently, an Ipsos poll published in weekly Le Point on Thursday (9 June) shows.

Jacques Chirac's popularity has reached its lowest level since his election in 1995, as only 27 percent of those questioned have a positive opinion about him, compared to 47 percent in May.

No French president has ever been so unpopular, according to French daily Le Figaro.