Paris - One day before France assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union, a government minister was quoted by a French daily as saying that French President Nicolas Sarkozy planned to "coach" the union to become a winner.

"(Sarkozy) intends to 'coach' this Europe to make it more dynamic, more lively and closer to its citizens," Minister for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet told the daily Le Parisien in an interview published Monday.

"The (European) Commission will win if it becomes more flexible and less dogmatic," said Jouyet, who has been Sarkozy's top envoy in the run-up to the French EU presidency, which begins Tuesday.

Europe's citizens will "not accept our not undertaking anything," Jouyet said. He added that "political errors were made" particularly in regard to fishing and fish quotas.

Many diplomats in Brussels have in the past reproached Sarkozy for his arrogance and his tendency to act unilaterally. But as acting EU president, he will have to display the diplomatic skills to create consensus among the 27 EU members.

To kick off his six-month term, Sarkozy was scheduled to appear on national television Monday evening for a one-hour interview. (dpa)