πͺπΊπ«π· President Macron just presented France's priorities for its presidency of the Council of the EU (which starts next January). Brace yourself for a long 𧡠on the main takeaways of a long speech π
First, the presidency will happen in a tense strategic environment with rising regional tensions especially in Europe's neighborhood, the persistence of the pandemic, growing global inequalities and climate change.
Against this backdrop, President Macron's ambition is to "move from a Europe of cooperation within its borders to a powerful and fully sovereign Europe that masters its destiny on the global stage".
To achieve this goal, France will promote three priorities: building a more sovereign Europe, developing a new growth model and creating a more human Europe.
1/ First pillar: building a more sovereign Europe. This means:
(i) Better controlling πͺπΊ borders through a reform of the Schengen area (w/ regular ministerial meetings), the creation of an emergency mechanism to support πͺπΊ countries under pressure, the migration and asylum pact
(ii) Creating the conditions for a "European strategic sovereignty" with the adoption in March of the Strategic Compass, the first πͺπΊ white book on security and defense. President Macron notably stressed the need to focus on new domains (space, cyber, maritime).
(iii) Ensuring the stability and prosperity of Europe's neighborhood, especially in:
(a) Africa with a EU-AU summit in February which will aim at developing an agenda on the financing of African economies and cooperation on health, climate, mobility, education and security.
(b) the Western Balkans with a conference in June. This region is "at the heart" of Europe for President Macron who called for a political and economic re-engagement of Europe to promote economic integration, address the issue of minorities, and fight against interference.
2/Second pillar: developing a new growth model for 2030. France will host a summit on March 10-11 to address 4 challenges:
(i) Europe's ability to innovate thanks to investments and industrial alliances in key domains (hydrogen, batteries, cloud, space, semiconductors, health).
This goal would require adapting the πͺπΊ budgetary framework and adopting a capital markets union.
(ii) Achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 by decarbonating our economies, implementing a carbon tax mechanism or promoting environmental clauses in trade agreements.
(iii) Making Europe a digital power through the support to digital champions, an integrated and regulated digital market (DMA and DSA regulations) and taxation on digital giants.
(iv) Building a social Europe (directives on minimum wage and salary transparency).
3/ Third pillar: creating a Europe on a human scale. This would translate into:
(i) The conclusion in May of the Conference on the future of Europe which aims at making Europe closer to its citizens and could lead to a revision of πͺπΊ treaties.
(ii) The defense of πͺπΊ values (which are "existential") notably through the promotion of press freedom.
(iii) An independent work on Europe's history to fight against revisionism.
(iv) Greater people-to-people exchanges through universities and a new European civic training.
All in all, quite an agenda with many meetings and events to be organized across France.
President Macron will be personally involved in many summits and meetings of the European Council. He told the press that he will be engaged "until the last minute" of his mandate (the first round of the French elections is on April 10).
Together with the @csiserep team, I will closely follow the French presidency of the Council of the EU. Follow this space for more news on this important moment for France, Europe and the transatlantic relationship ! [End]
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Le Drian: "I would like to thank you for having chosen France for your first trip in your new position. This first visit is a fine tradition in Franco-German relations. This relationship is essential, not to say vital, for our two nations".
Le Drian: "The orientations of the German government's coalition contract largely overlap the priorities France will advance on behalf of the Europeans during its presidency of the EU Council".
What should we expect from the Macron-Biden meeting later this week in Rome? In this @TheNatlInterest piece, I try to put into perspective the ongoing diplomatic row between Paris and Washington over #AUKUS. A short 𧡠on the main takeaways π nationalinterest.org/feature/aukus-β¦
If you think that the π«π·πΊπΈ diplomatic tensions over AUKUS are only a bilateral matter over the loss of a submarine contract, then youβre mistaken.
The AUKUS crisis is actually revealing of a larger trend in the transatlantic relationship, with Washington increasingly focusing on its competition with China sometimes at the risk of overlooking Europe's role and interests.
Yesterday, France launched with success a military communication satellite called SYRACUSE IV. This is an important milestone in France's space defense strategy. A short 𧡠to explain why π
Syracuse IV will provide secure communications to French armed forces regardless of the distance. This satellite will be part of a constellation of 3, replacing the existing system (Syracuse III) in place since 2007.
This constellation will have a bandwidth 3 times higher than the previous generation and will connect together more than 400 ground stations.
French foreign minister @JY_LeDrian testified yesterday at a French Senate hearing on the implications of #AUKUS. An important discussion with French Senators which will be followed by other hearings. A 𧡠on the main highlights π
First, minister Le Drian presented in detail the Franco-Australian Future Submarine Program. An intergovernmental agreement was signed in December 2016 and then a Strategic Partnering Agreement in February 2019.
The production was supposed to start in 2023 and the first submarine to be delivered by 2033/2034. Le Drian noted that the program included an industrial partnership with the U.S. with Lockheed Martin in charge of the weapon system.
This piece by @AlbertoNardelli tackles an important topic (European technological sovereignty) but is mixing up very different issues in a misleading way. A short π§΅π bloomberg.com/news/articles/β¦
First, the article dismisses, without any true counterpoint, the arguments in favor of greater technological independence and resilience.
This not about internal quarrels within the EU institutions, nor about a French lone crusade for a protectionist European economy.
"If the goal was to build a unified and capable coalition of countries to deter aggression from π¨π³ and defend a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, alienating and excluding π«π· was incredibly short-sighted". π― piece by @Brad_L_Bowman & @MarkCMontgomery defenseone.com/ideas/2021/09/β¦
"France brings both the desire and ability to help defend these common interests with Washington. From a military perspective, the French are more present and active in the Indo-Pacific than any other European power."
"In formulating AUKUS, the Biden admin should have taken these realities into account and found a way to include France in the agreement. That would have been respectful of the centuries-long U.S.-France alliance and would have advanced shared interests in the Indo-Pacific."