PARIS, May 19: France is so determined to re-establish the authority of France and Germany over Europe that it has lost no time during the past two weeks, making it clear that Europe’s future - especially the new Europe which will soon include 25 countries - depends on the existence of the Franco-German “motor”, which has played a pre-eminent part in the shaping of Europe as it now exists.

Only a few days following a major policy speech in Brussels by France’s new foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, his deputy, Donnedieu de Vabres, the just-named minister for European affairs, has been sent to Berlin for his first official visit abroad, and this, he says to emphasize French determination that the Franco-German alliance that has long dominated the functioning of Europe be reinstated as Europe prepares to enlarge itself to 25 nations.

“It’s imperative that a strong accord between France and Germany take form and do so clearly,” said Mr Donnedieu de Vabres in the German capital on Friday.

“Both with regard to domestic public opinion and that of the member nations of the EU.”

“France and Germany,” he emphasized, “have to undertake a joint reflection as to how Europe of the future will function and how it will undertake its expansion. This, with a view to mobilizing public opinion but also the 300 million citizens of the EU. To bring this about, we have to publicly manifest good relations between France and Germany. It’s a major element in bringing about the confidence of our fellow citizens.”

The pre-eminence has been largely called into question since the election to the German chancellorship of Gerhard Schroeder, who, upon taking up his post, let it be known he would be turning his attention more towards the Anglo-Saxon world than had his predecessor, pro-French Helmut Kohl.

Another factor has been the decision by Italy, Spain and Great Britain to create their own alliance, which promotes the introduction into the EU of a greater dose of economic liberalism than France would like, but then that was a few weeks ago when France’s destinies were largely dominated by the Socialist philosophies of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who was defeated for the French Presidency by Jacques Chirac on May 5.

Under a new Chirac presidency - especially if he is able, next month, to give himself a Gaullist-dominated parliamentary majority - it is evident that, unlike the past five years when France turned its attention to Europe, the newly re-elected French head of state is expected to spend his time righting the course of the French ship of state and restoring its ability to navigate on its own.