And it is on these subjects that I would like to focus in this first presentation today. The first objective of our presidency should indeed be to bring Europe closer to its citizens. Some may see this as a leitmotiv of all European Union presidencies or as a figleaf for the failings of a structure which has the reputation of being essentially a technocracy. And it is true that the programs of all of the previous presidencies called for greater transparency in European decision-making. But without engaging in gratuitous semantics, I would say that a more transparent Europe does not necessarily signify a Europe more accessible to its citizens.
Transparency is only one prerequisite among many.
Our concern is not just with improving Europe's image but with enhancing the debate in Europe and putting on its agenda those texts and issues which are of direct concern to European citizens. This is why I would like to focus in more detail on two topics which will be at the heart of our activities in the second half. First of all, of course, following the Lisbon European Council, growth and employment. Mr. Chairman, Alain, you were quite right to call attention in your report to the fact that the French presidency will provide an opportunity to consolidate the government's efforts over the last three years to make growth and employment into a major focus of the Union. It was against this backdrop that we actively supported the Portugese presidency in preparing the Lisbon European Council held last Thursday and Friday, which concluded with the definition of a strategic objective for the coming decade.