French president criticizes European Commission over Hewlett Packard job cuts plan

French President Jacques Chirac criticized Tuesday the European Commission (EC) for not doing enough over Hewlett-Packard Co (HP)'s job cuts plan.

Speaking at a press conference, Chirac said many European citizens had the impression that the EU and its executive Commission were not doing enough to defend their interests.

"The vocation of Europe and of European institutions is also, and above all, to defend Europe, to defend the economic, financial and social interests of Europe," he said after talks with visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"Is it normal for the Commission to be disinterested in a problem?" he asked. "It is a problem that must be looked at."

HP has announced a job cuts plan to cut 6,000 posts in Europe, including 1,240 in France.

Source: Xinhua