French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday urged flexibility from Europe in sticking to the principles of free market.
Addressing the plenary of the European Parliament, Sarkozy said, "Europe is committed to competition, but Europe must not be the only one in the world to make a religion of it."
Europe has opted for a market economy and for capitalism, but "this choice does not imply either a totally laissez-faire approach or the acceptance of the excesses of a financial capitalism which benefits speculators and profiteers rather than entrepreneurs and workers."
He said if other countries protected their companies from dumping, "Why shoudn't Europe?"
"Europe doesn't want protectionism," but why shouldn't Europe protect its farmers and industries, he asked.
The European Union (EU) should be as willing to protect its citizens as other major world economies are, he said.
"If every country has an exchange rate policy, why not Europe?" he said, adding that such themes would be at the heart of the French presidency.
France will hold the six-month rotating EU presidency from July2008 after Slovenia.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article