| French president Jacques Chirac, right, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder applaud before a press conference in Paris, at the end of a Franco-German summit |
In a joint statement issued today in Paris, the two leaders said the proposed EU constitution would strengthen Europe's clout in the international arena, and reinforce its ability to bolster peace and security in the world.
Mr. Chirac and Mr. Schroeder conferred early Tuesday in Paris before a meeting between their two cabinets to discuss economic cooperation issues.
Recent public opinion polls indicate the French voters will likely reject the proposed charter in a May 29 referendum.
The constitution requires approval of all 25 EU countries before it can go into effect.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
