Sarkozy's European vision -- some headaches ahead

By Paul Taylor, European Affairs Editor

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union officials are preparing for headaches as they digest some of the European views of French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy, despite their congratulatory statements and sighs of relief.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was quick to welcome his centre-right ally's victory, voicing confidence that Sarkozy would put France back at the heart of European integration and work for a quick solution to replace the bloc's defunct constitution.

"I have every confidence that Nicolas Sarkozy, whose convictions I know and whose strong beliefs are known to all, will play a driving role in resolving the institutional question and in consolidating a political Europe," Barroso said.

But other Brussels officials are alarmed at some of the conservative Gaullist's other campaign promises, inspired by a philosophy of national and European economic protection at odds with EU orthodoxy, and at his opposition to Turkey's candidacy.

In his acceptance speech, Sarkozy proclaimed himself a lifelong European and said: "Tonight France is back in Europe."

But he also urged France's partners to "hear the voice of the people who want to be protected", and who see the EU as a "Trojan Horse for all the threats of a changing world".

EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they assumed Sarkozy would be more orthodox in government than he had sounded when running for office. But his campaign rhetoric raised several anxious questions in Brussels:

- Will he really push for a weaker euro and how?

- Will he prevent the EU making necessary concessions to reach a world trade agreement this year?

- And will he try to halt Turkey's accession negotiations, as President Charles de Gaulle did twice with Britain in the 1960s?

EURO, TRADE, TURKEY

As a candidate, Sarkozy repeatedly blamed the European Central Bank for the single currency's high exchange rate, which he said was hitting European competitiveness.

"We are depriving ourselves of an instrument to create growth, provide jobs, for purely ideological reasons," he said.

EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia went out of his way to rebut that view. He reaffirmed on Monday that figures show EU exports have not suffered from the strong euro, indeed France's trade balance with the United States has improved.

In interviews with French media, Almunia warned against "demagogic arguments" on the euro and said: "People must not give in to the temptation of a protectionist discourse."