PARIS, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy told his country Friday to accept globalization, but said it needs to be more competitive.
At a meeting of about 4,000 business executives, Sarkozy said the French should stop ignoring globalization, The International Herald Tribune reported.
He also outlined policies that would allow French companies to better compete in global markets, such as relaxing laws establishing the 35-hour work week and lowering payroll taxes, the newspaper said.
Sarkozy promised to protect French companies from dumping and other potential threats of the global marketplace.
Though the speech was delivered to business leaders, it was also aimed at labor unions and voters who have resisted changes to labor laws, the Herald Tribune said.
