(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-11 16:02

PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said here Sunday that France will resume its role of an "engine" in promoting the development of Europe.

TV grab shows French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a national televised address, Feb. 10, 2008. [Xinhua]

The remark came two days after the French parliament gave the green light to the new European Union (EU) reform treaty, making France the fifth and so far the largest country to ratify the document.

Speaking during a national televised address, Sarkozy, a staunch advocate of the so-called Lisbon Treaty, said that by ratifying the document, France would regain its influence and resume its role of an "engine" behind the continent's development.

During its EU presidency starting from the second half of 2008,France would focus on sustainable development, immigration, security and agriculture, according to the president.

France would also work to promote an integrated Europe to face various challenges and help Europe become a united power which would wield significant clout in the world's political, economic and cultural fields, Sarkozy added.

France, one of the two countries that shocked Europe by voting down the EU constitution in a referendum in 2005, this time avoided the risk of another embarrassment to Brussels by dropping a referendum and instead ratifying the treaty through parliamentary vote.

A "yes" answer from France further paved the way for the implementation of the treaty. However, uncertainty persists since the document can only take effect with the approval of all 27 EU member states.