France’s ambassador to the United Nations has called on EU member states to do more to raise the bloc’s profile and present a united front in the organisation

Date: 20/07/2000

Jean-David Levitte, outlining France's priorities for its Union presidency at a recent UN General Assembly meeting, said the US "makes as much noise as if it were 15" countries, while the EU-15 sounded "as if we were just one country". The French ambassador also said the Union paid "over and above its share" of the UN's budget, referring to the 36% of costs borne by EU members compared to the bloc's 30% share of the world economy.