Today's Date:

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My dear compatriots in metropolitan and overseas France and abroad,

TSUNAMI

We are all devastated by the terrible catastrophe which has brought death, horror and destruction to the Indian Ocean.

This evening, my thoughts go to all the victims. They go to our compatriots' families and loved-ones whose lives were shattered on 26 December. They go to the injured, to all those without news of a loved-one. I want to tell them, on behalf of the whole nation, of my shock and wholehearted solidarity.

The government immediately mobilized to lend the victims assistance and support.

And I salute the magnificent surge of generosity of the French who are coming forward and responding en masse to the humanitarian organizations' appeal to help the people hit by this tragedy, a tragedy which is ours too.

Since everyone is today aware of the extent to which, regardless of the distance between us, we form a single mankind whose destiny is indistinguishable from that of our planet.

Faced with the emergency, the efforts must continue: to find our compatriots and help their families, step up the relief efforts and humanitarian aid, combat the risks of epidemics.

Moreover, France and Europe are putting exceptional means in place, and particularly a moratorium on debt, so that the devastated regions can be rebuilt and the people who have lost everything can return to their daily lives.

While we obviously can't prevent such earthquakes, it is up to us to prevent the most tragic consequences.

France will make active efforts to get Europe and the United Nations rapidly to set up effective early-warning systems and organize a genuine rapid humanitarian reaction force, as we have done, for peace, with the blue helmets.

FRANCE/EU/CONSTITUTION/REFERENDUM

My dear compatriots,

This evening, I also want to talk to you about our country and its future.

After two-and-a-half years of efforts to safeguard and strengthen our solidarity, regain sustained growth, restore the State's authority and the Republic's values, the time has come to devote efforts to our goal for the future.

The goal of building a society open to Europe. A society of justice, growth and jobs. A society of knowledge, creativity and innovation.

The Europe for which France has been fighting for a long time is a united Europe whose nations have made peace with each other. A Europe totally committed to peace, freedom and development. A Europe in the front line of the action against pollution and the destruction of nature. A Europe offering all its children the best social guarantees and best opportunities for employment and prosperity. A Europe relying on the nations, bringing them together so that they are a force to be reckoned with in the face of the world's great entities.

In 2005, you will have this Europe's future in your hands. Indeed I have decided that the European Constitution will be submitted to you in a referendum, before the summer. In this way, you, a sovereign people, will yourselves be called on to choose your destiny.

By approving the European Constitution, you will enable Europe to be more democratic, more proactive and more powerful. You will make it capable of faster economic and social progress. And you will allow France to have greater weight in the EU.

Whether to be inward- or outward-looking, the choice we shall make will be decisive. This choice is extremely important for France and Europe's future. It must not be distorted or hijacked by any other consideration. It places a very great responsibility on all of us.

FRANCE/ECONOMY/EMPLOYMENT/GROWTH/SOCIAL COHESION/FRENCH INDUSTRY/EDUCATION/SCIENCE

Let us also build a society which gives everyone their opportunities, a society of growth, geared to activity and employment.

Since 2002, Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government has taken the necessary measures to get our economy moving again by giving priority to employment, supporting consumption and enhancing the dynamism of our businesses. 2004 has been the best of the past four years for growth. For the first time since 2001, unemployment has been stabilized. It isn't enough, but, halfway through, we are on the right track and I'm asking the government to continue and extend its efforts.

To do the utmost for growth. Go on raising the minimum wage and supporting purchasing power. Go on reducing income tax and labour costs. Continue efforts to control our spending. Encourage investment by implementing the reform of the taxe professionnelle [a local business tax based on capital and turnover]. Allow those who want to earn more to work more. Give consumers more rights. Increase competition. Encourage exports and strengthen our presence in the major emerging markets.

Do the utmost to make this growth benefit employment.

I wanted all the public authorities to mobilize to enhance our social cohesion. The Act has just been passed. We now have new methods of developing youth employment. Of bringing back into work those on welfare benefits. Combating discrimination in recruitment. Modernizing the public employment service. Filling all those jobs still vacant, particularly in small-scale industry and services to people where the needs are immense.

Finally, to do the utmost to be up with the latest technologies which are creating tomorrow's jobs.

Industrial successes are prepared long in advance. Our industry still draws its strength from the programmes of the past decades like the TGV, nuclear industry, Airbus and Ariane. I have asked the government to launch, in support of our businesses and with our European partners, the industrial projects which will drive tomorrow's growth and allow us to increase our technological advance.

We shall thus move resolutely towards an innovation and highly-skilled society. This will be the primary source of dynamism and wealth in the twenty-first century. Our place [in the world] hinges on our success in the competition with the most advanced countries.

This is why I also wanted a reform to help our schools adapt to the demands and challenges of our time. The Outline Act will come into force as from the start of the next school year in September. It is of fundamental importance for the success of every child and the dynamism of the whole nation.

Let's at the same time give our researchers the resources to serve our future: this is the aim of the reform the government is preparing with the scientific community. And let's make our higher education capable of rivalling, in every sphere, the world's foremost universities.

My dear compatriots in metropolitan and overseas France and abroad,

I wish each and every one of you a very happy New Year.

For those entering this New Year alone, in distress or ill health, I want to express to you my warmest thoughts.

I also want to pay tribute, on everyone's behalf, to our soldiers deployed on every continent in the service of peace. They are carrying out their missions with exemplary courage and professionalism.

Our nation stands together, is ambitious, proactive and proud of its values. Its future depends on all of you. And this evening I want to tell you of my confidence in you as I send you my warmest wishes for 2005.

Long live the Republic,

Long live France!./.