This is amusing. France is actually saying "trust me" to Europe. The EUobersrver is reporting the French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said it in a letter sent to ten European newspapers (Read about it here).

Perhaps it's different in Europe. But when someone uses that phrase here in America, we immediately trust the person using it about as far as we trust a car salesman.

But this is what Raffarin said. Why? Well, lately France's trust-index has slipped a little. You see, although publicly France was voicing its support for the new Constitution, it is believed France was secretly against it. This EUobserver report says:

France was suspected by several EU diplomats as being one of the main reasons why talks on the Constitution failed last month -- as it was not ready to commit itself to the text.

If you've been following my commentaries, you know what I think. I think this may all have been part of a plan to torpedo the new Constitution. Here's why: If the new Constitution had been adopted, the 10 Western European Union nations would have lost their majority vote in the Council. Now that the talks failed, the 10 nations are still in control. And the way the current voting system works, they'll still be in control even after the new members enter in May.

Like I said, I think the collapsed talks could all have been planned from the get go. And, I think other EU observers are thinking that too. 

One more thing: Notice how the French Prime Minister slipped in the part about pioneer groups. With one sentence he managed to prepare Europe for the possibility of pioneer groups, and at the same time assure Europe there's nothing to worry about. Mr. smoothie said it this way:

The pioneer groups will build the future, while respecting the acquis communautaire.

So, there we have it. It will be a two-speed Europe. Some member states will group together in tighter circles, and others will be left on the outside looking in. But don't worry. France says the insiders will continue to respect the outsiders.

Trust me.