Both France and Germany are staunch supporters of the EU scheme hoping the EU would deflect their failing economies.
Little wonder why Chirac wants a global taxation scheme!
UK should not join the EU! Dumbest thing possible!
BTW, France's unemployment rate is @ 14+%. At least 40% of France's employed work for the *government* which owns about 40% of industry and business. France suffers a stale and stagnant economy. I would say Chirac's anti-Bush and anti-American rants are face-saving deflections from France's rapidly growing social problems and rapidly declining economy.
Chirac's sense of promoting "egalitarianism" is to ban religious symbolism! (With bleeps & sarcasim)
It seems Chirac recently attended ACLU "civil rights" workshops.