Related: French PM highlights employment in policy speech

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (L) delivers his policy speech to deputies at the National Assembly in Paris, June 8, 2005.

    PARIS, June 8 (Xinhuanet) -- New French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said on Wednesday that France will keep its full place in the European Union (EU) and respect its commitments.

    Villepin, in his first major speech before the French parliament 10 days after the French voters rejected the EU constitutional treaty, affirmed that France, as a founder of the EU, remains committed to the European Union and will continue to play a major role in the bloc.

    "All of our country remains committed to the European project,"he said, adding "don't interpret this vote as a signal of French isolation."

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin smiles before giving his policy speech to deputies at the National Assembly in Paris, June 8, 2005.

    "Europe's signification relies on its values, it is not built on its mere force of market," he said.

    "The French people don't fear of Europe," said the prime minister, who saw the rejection of the EU charter in the May 29 referendum as having its roots in worries that the French could lose their cherished welfare system and labor protections to EU-wide reforms based on free market ideology.

    "The continent's rapid enlargement surprised our compatriots. They understand the historic legitimacy and necessity, but they are fearful of the economic and social consequences," he said, inviting the Europeans to give themselves more time to better understand themselves after the entry of 10 new members to the bloc on May 1, 2004. Enditem