Last week Sarkozy announced a radical restructuring of the French armed forces, and at the beginning of July, France will take over the rotating presidency of the European Union with an agenda intended to put Paris front and center in the Union long after it gives up its six-month seat in Brussels. The plan would make France the first among (un)equals in an ever-tighter alliance for defense as well as trade. Only Britain has comparable military forces, and Sarkozy wants to make sure his are the most effective. “France has to change to remain itself,” Sarkozy told his generals, many of whom fear budget cuts will come quickly but improvements will not.