Chirac worstelt met Grondwet-referendum en EU-lidmaatschap Turkije (en)

In a keynote speech today, French President Jacques Chirac will set out his case for Europe to the French people and deal with the burning issues of the day - whether to allow Turkey into the EU and whether to hold a referendum on the Constitution.

He will also conduct his first general press conference for six years to answer questions from journalists on these awkward topics, although no major policy announcement is expected.

Holding out

On the question of a referendum, he is likely to repeat his official line - that no decision will be taken until the Constitution has been agreed on in June.

But pressure has been mounting on Mr Chirac, both from politicians and citizens to hold a vote on the issue, since the recent decision by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to have a referendum.

Mr Chirac is thought to be concerned that people often use a referendum to show displeasure with the government of the time, rather than answer the question posed.

Former Commission President Jacques Delors echoed those sentiments yesterday. In an interview with Le Parisien, he said, "go for a referendum but be careful". He added, "is it not a bit like Russian roulette? Will the French people really answer the question"?

It is said that one option being considered by the President is to ratify the Constitution on the same day as Germany to show solidarity with their neighbours.

Hot Turkey

Mr Chirac is likely to face questions on another "hot" topic - that of Turkey's entry into the EU.

Conflicting signals have emerged from the French government in recent weeks on this subject with Foreign Minister Michel Barnier saying that the EU should not "slam the door" on Turkish adhesion but the head of Mr Chirac's party saying that Turkey had "no business" in the EU.

EU leaders are set to decide by the end of this year whether to open accession negotiations with Turkey.