‘Europe’ has lost popularity in France.

The direction the E.U. is headed in is so unpopular in French opinion, the article states, that if a referendum were held – on any European subject, whether enlargement or a new European institution – it would be met by a resounding “no”.

Despite this total loss of enthusiasm across the political spectrum and general opinion in France because of economic crises, social issues, and ambiguities about the E.U.’s supranational institutions, the article concludes that France and French people are definitely better off with the ‘new’ Europe than without.

Elsewhere, the President of the European Commission (EC) Romano Prodi, in statements to the newspaper Le Soir, has warned of a conflict of interest in the ‘new’ Europe.

During the recent conflict in Iraq, many countries due to join the E.U. next year supported the American government, at odds with the majority of E.U. powers.

Prodi warned that those countries could not enjoy the economic benefits of the E.U., the security benefits of ad hoc alliances with the U.S., and be a part of the ‘European family’.