Today's Date:

President Chirac welcomes the simultaneous ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by all the European Union member countries. By this gesture, a decisive step has been taken towards the entry into force of this essential text for the future of the planet. A few weeks away from the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development, Europe is thus confirming its determination to shoulder all its responsibilities when it comes to protecting the world's environment.

The Kyoto Protocol constitutes, according to the experts, the indispensable minimum commitment to start controlling global warming. It is therefore vital for it to come into force as swiftly as possible and immediately be ratified by all the countries concerned, particularly the industrialized countries, which are today the main emitters of greenhouse gases.

France will continue to act with this aim in view, especially at the forthcoming G8 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on 26 and 27 June this year. She will also ensure that the international community steps up its efforts to help the developing countries to adopt strategies which are capable right now of limiting their emissions.

France also attaches the highest priority to the implementation of her own national plan to reduce greenhouse gases and the European Climate Change Programme./.