Meerderheid Fransen pessimistisch over Frans voorzitterschap EU (en)
Although France has been preparing its EU presidency for months and has made no secret of its ambitious plans for its chairmanship of the bloc, no more than one French person in three believes Paris will be able to boost Europe after Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty.
Asked if they trust their president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to re-launch Europe after the shock of the Irish No on 12 June, 57 percent of the French responded negatively and 31 percent positively, according to a poll published in financial daily Les Echos on Tuesday (24 June).
Some 39 percent trust him to develop "an ambitious project for Europe," but 53 percent remain sceptical.
Additionally, almost half of those asked - 49 percent - said they did not believe Mr Sarkozy would be diplomatic towards his European partners, while 44 percent trusted him on this point.
The French leader's blunt statements and overly familiar language to his counterparts are said to irritate some of them, particularly German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Recently, he also attacked EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson for pursuing a trade liberalisation deal that would lead to cut in agricultural production while "a child dies of hunger every 30 seconds," and implied the commissioner had played a role in Ireland's negative vote on the Lisbon treaty.
With less than a week left to the start of Paris' EU presidency – lasting from 1 July to 31 December - the majority of French have also expressed scepticism about Mr Sarkozy's ability to make a difference to the EU's economic growth (61 percent share a negative opinion, against 32 percent who are optimistic).
A large majority - 71 percent - also do not believe the president will be able to limit the consequences of surging oil prices.
Mr Sarkozy's proposal to cap VAT on fuels as a reaction to high prices met a cool reception from most EU leaders, although the European Commission eventually promised to study it.
The poll was carried out on 20 and 21 June for daily Les Echos and France Inter radio. Some 1,000 people were asked their opinion.
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