Chirac rejects protectionist claims as 'absurd'
French President Jacques Chirac, in Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, today dismissed as “completely absurd” suggestions that his country is pursuing protectionist policies, rejecting criticism elsewhere in Europe of a government-backed merger between two French energy firms.
France’s policies have been in the spotlight since the government last month announced plans to merge Suez SA and gas giant Gaz de France, shortly after Italy’s Enel indicated it had an interest in Suez.
“I have heard here or there, notably in the foreign press, France, as it were, accused of being protectionist,” Chirac said after meeting Chancellor Merkel.
“I would simply like to underline the completely absurd character of this statement.”
Chirac did not mention by name the proposed Suez-GdF tie-up. Rome has asked the European Commission to intervene, claiming France has broken EU rules on the free movement of capital and non-discrimination against foreign firms.
However, Chirac insisted: “Official figures show that … we have twice as much foreign investment as in Germany and three times more than in Italy. That is simply to say that France is one of the freest countries in the whole of Europe from this point of view.”
