A new year and a new dawn. Bulgaria joins the E.U. but has Bulgaria been used by the French in the eternal battle for influence?

Has Sarkozy exploited a potential tragedy to obtain international kudos for the revival of the Franco-German axis?

Is he trying to undermine newfound British influence?

Mme. Sarkozy has saved the Bulgarian nurses ridiculously and dangerously accused of infecting children with HIV but did she really do this? Or did she capitalise on a long process of negotiation?