"We have to take the building of Europe for what it is to the peoples of all Europe: the expression of a spiritual, moral and political need". Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the French Republic, gave an address today to the EU Parliament gathered in Strasbourg. In his address (8 sheets), he spoke of several subjects, from the historical origins of the integration to the French and Dutch votes against the Constitution through to the Lisbon Treaty. "Thank you explained Sarkozy for allowing me to renew in front of you the European commitment of France and to tell you that the French vote against the Constitution was not, for the French people, the expression of their refusal of Europe, but the expression of a greater expectation of it". Then, the speaker stated that the EU cannot be simply an "administrative" or "legal" machine; it must fulfil actual requirements, as well as taking "human feelings and passions" into account. "Europe will be made with the peoples; it will not be made without or against them". Therefore, "when the peoples say no" (with reference to the outcome of the 2005 Referendum that rejected the EU Charter), "we cannot say the peoples are wrong, we must ask ourselves why they said no". (continued)
