Europe, says Dominique de Villepin, is a continent founded on doubts and ideals. Yet in spite of having only three months left in office, the exuberant French prime minister displays little of the former and a lot of the latter when it comes to discussing Europe’s future in an interview with the Financial Times.

As the European Union next month celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, its founding charter, Mr de Villepin calls for a correction of the “excessively liberal” vision of Europe. Instead the EU should be relaunched with a mission to tackle the biggest challenges of the day: peace, justice, security, immigration, and the environment.