The Eiffel tower will be lit up in the colours of Europe every evening in the next six months. (Photo: wikipedia)

During a one-hour television address, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, promised to "protect Europeans" during France's time at the EU helm. The French EU presidency, which begins Tuesday (1 July), is saddled with some of the biggest conundrums to face the bloc in years: Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty and the climate of growing discontent among citizens towards what they see as the EU's poor response to growing food and fuel prices.

"We have to profoundly change our way of building Europe," Mr Sarkozy said during his talk on TV channel France 3 on Monday (30 June).

"There is something wrong, Europe worries today and even worse, [European] citizens are wondering whether in the end they are not better protected at the national rather than at the European level," he added.

Consequently, "we must not be afraid of the word protection… We have to reflect on how to turn Europe into a means of protecting Europeans in their everyday lives," he argued.

Mr Sarkozy explained that he wanted to provoke a "salutary shock" through a change in order to save "the European idea," which would be in danger "if one does not protect the people."

The French leader stated on an earlier occasion that one of the things Europeans expected from the EU is to shield them from globalisation's negative effects – but France's protectionist streak is unlikely to be welcomed unanimously by all other 26 member states.

He has also opposed the European Commission's position in global trade talks and recently publicly criticised EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson for pursuing a trade liberalisation deal that he said would lead to a one-fifth cut in agricultural production and a reduction in farm exports, while "a child dies of hunger every 30 seconds."

A review – or "health check" – of the EU's farm spending is planned before the end of the year.

In the aftermath of the Irish No

A couple of hours after Mr Sarkozy's TV intervention, the Eiffel tower was lit up in the blue and golden glow of the EU's colours under the gaze of of France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, and the ambassadors of the other 26 EU states in Paris, as the French EU presidency was officially launched.

Despite its ambitious goals however, many analysts argue France's six-month chairmanship of the EU will be clouded by Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty in June.

While evoking immigration, climate change and agriculture as some of the main dossiers on which the French presidency will focus, Mr Sarkozy did not offer further details on his plans on defence in his TV speech.

Boosting up EU defence has been another one of Paris' declared priorities for the next six months, but also a point on which its rhetoric may need to be toned down, in particular if Irish citizens, wary of EU military plans, are to vote a second time on the Lisbon treaty – as Mr Sarkozy himself has implied they might.

France has also proposed a plan to co-ordinate a crackdown on clandestine immigrants - making it harder to come into Europe.

But the so-called "immigration pact" has already been opposed by Spain and watered down under Madrid's pressure.

Some of the measures contained in the document were judged too tough by Spain – such as the putting in place of compulsory "integration contracts," and making it obligatory for the immigrants to adopt "national and European values."

Madrid fears the requirement may dissuade legal workers, which it needs to boost its economy.

The French minister of immigration and integration, Brice Hortefeux, will officially present a new version of his plans to EU interior and justice ministers on 7 July, Le Figaro reports.

On Monday, the French president also defended once again his plans to cut VAT on fuels in response to the soaring fuel prices – a move opposed by a number of member states, in particular Germany.

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