Franse regering beantwoordt kritiek op vermeend verlies van invloed in EU (en)

The French government has bitten back at the increasingly loud criticism that Paris is losing influence in the EU.

French foreign minister Michel Barnier told Le Figaro that France is "very well represented in the European institutions - often with eminent jobs".

"A decline of France? A loss in influence? Let's stop denigrating ourselves", he said.

Mr Barnier, who himself was a European Commissioner until April this year, said that his country "participates in the conception and the implementation of all policies".

Paris is a force to be reckoned with in matters regarding the economy, justice and police issues and common defence issues, he added.

He conceded that France "has to adapt" to a Europe of 25 but added "I have said on many occasions that an influential country is a country that knows how to make proposals and convince and to listen as well in order to build majorities around its ideas".

Mr Barnier's words come after several French politicians as well as French media have been speculating about the decline of the country's sphere of influence in Brussels.

A former interior minister, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, said that the country has been "marginalized" in Brussels while former Europe minister Pierre Moscovici said that "by behaving in a cavalier fashion towards the Commission, the France of Jacques Chirac finds itself sanctioned".

Barrot sparks debate

Much of the criticism started when France's Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, was told he would be in charge of transport - a relatively small portfolio - from 1 November.

Mr Moscovici said it was because "Mr Chirac made the mistake of not renaming a Commissioner who enjoyed the esteem of everyone and who was a heavyweight in the previous commission".

Mr Barrot, who is a loyal ally of Mr Chirac, was sent to Brussels to replace Mr Barnier although he has little direct experience with EU affairs.

But Mr Barnier defended Mr Barrot's position in the European Commission.

"[Mr Barrot] will be one of the five vice-presidents. It is a position of influence that should not be neglected in a team with 25 members".

"His portfolio covers an important sector of European action: land, maritime and aerial transport", said the foreign minister.