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From The Times
October 8, 2005

Blair and Chirac show unity

By Anthony Browne
Tony Blair and President Chirac publicly patched up their differences yesterday, insisting that they would be a force for harmony in Europe.

Differences between the leaders have become a fault line in European politics, pushing the EU deeper into confusion. However, after a one-hour meeting in Paris, Mr Blair and M Chirac put on a show of unity.

An EU summit in June ended in acrimony after Mr Blair refused to surrender Britain’s budget rebate and M Chirac refused to countenance the reduction of farm subsidies. As well as the budget and agricultural reform, Mr Blair and M Chirac have clashed over an array of other Union issues.

M Chirac said: “We are aware of Europe’s difficulties and we have the ambition of making these difficulties disappear and not grow.”

Mr Blair said: “It’s important to see if we can find a way forward for Europe because that is important for Europe’s citizens.”

The Prime Minister, who holds the rotating presidency, was visiting Paris before an informal EU summit at Hampton Court on October 27.

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