Ukraine has made the French referendum tricky

France has always regarded Europe with a proprietorial interest - a habit that was certainly encouraged by Napoleon's Foreign Minister - Talleyrand.

He was fond of claiming in later life that he had always acted in the interests of Europe, believing that what was good for Europe was ultimately in the best interests of France. Whether this eighteenth century principle still holds true may play a significant part in the forthcoming French referendum on the European Constitutional treaty ...