Sarkozy in Strasbourg: Actions will speak louder than words

4.00.00pm GMT Tue 13th Nov 2007

Responding to the speech by President Sarkozy today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Graham Watson, MEP for the South West and Gibraltar and Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe said:

"Sarkozy's rhetoric, like that of Blair before him, impressed his audience but ultimately it is his actions which will speak louder than his words. Tony Blair failed to live up to the high expectations of his oration. It is for Sarkozy now to show that he can deliver concrete results for Europe and not just a good speech."

"For me the strongest part of his speech was his firm commitment to building a political Europe. The weakest was his incoherence on economic policy. President Barroso would be well advised to keep his hands firmly on the reigns of economic policy."