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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French minister bids to calm row | French minister bids to calm row |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| French minister Pierre Lellouche has said he is not worried about the Tories' new European policy and would be able to work with David Cameron. | French minister Pierre Lellouche has said he is not worried about the Tories' new European policy and would be able to work with David Cameron. |
| Mr Lellouche had appeared to be highly critical of the Tories' pledge to take some powers back from Brussels, claiming the stance was "pathetic". | Mr Lellouche had appeared to be highly critical of the Tories' pledge to take some powers back from Brussels, claiming the stance was "pathetic". |
| But he told the BBC he considered shadow foreign secretary William Hague a "friend" and would work with him. | But he told the BBC he considered shadow foreign secretary William Hague a "friend" and would work with him. |
| He said he was prepared to "live with" whatever policy the UK had on Europe. | He said he was prepared to "live with" whatever policy the UK had on Europe. |
| 'Saddened' | |
| Mr Lellouche, Minister for Europe under President Sarkozy, raised eyebrows when he told a British newspaper that the Conservatives risked "castrating" themselves in Europe by pursuing their current policy. | |
| In the aftermath of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged to give the British people a vote on future treaties transferring any further powers to Brussels. | |
| He also said he would seek to renegotiate existing laws to regain national supremacy over some social, employment and criminal justice powers. | |
| Speaking to the BBC, Mr Lellouche said he was "saddened" by the tone of "Euro-hostility" in the Conservative discussions over Europe. | |
| He said that the Tories did not appear to want to "listen" to France and other EU members over the future direction of Europe. | |
| However, he toned down his early criticism, saying that he had not intended to use the words "pathetic" or "castrated", and that he thought he had speaking off-the-record and had not expected his comments to be reported in The Guardian newspaper. | |
| He said France would be prepared to talk to and work with a Conservative government should it win power. | |
| He said he was "convinced" that the UK would "eventually" get back to playing a "full role" in Europe under the Tories "despite this rhetoric" - which he attributed to the Conservatives' long-spell in opposition. | |
| "Europe needs the UK and you need Europe," he said, adding: "It is important". | |
| He added: "No-one is going to steal the sovereignty of the UK without the approval of the British people." |