On Saturday, France took over the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) from Slovenia for six months and laid out plans for a more “sovereign and powerful Europe.” The motto of France’s EU presidency is “recovery, strength, belonging.”
France’s 6-month - long EU presidency begins today!
— Emmanuel Lenain 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinIndia) January 1, 2022
Amongst our top priorities: translating the new EU #IndoPacific strategy into concrete actions & making Europe India’s natural partner to promote a #multipolar world. #EU2022FR 🇪🇺🇫🇷🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MGKsqIK70j
The Eiffel Tower and the Elysée Palace were lit up in the blue colour of Europe to commemorate the presidency. However, the installation of the European flag under the Arc de Triomphe triggered controversy, with far-right presidential candidates Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour saying that the French flag had been replaced by the European flag over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune slammed what he termed as vile allegations, saying, “The French flag will obviously be reinstalled.”
#ArcDeTriomphe looks fabulous with European Union flag to mark start of France’s six month EU presidency. Right wing French presidential candidates @MLP_officiel @ZemmourEric @vpecresse are NOT amused 😂 pic.twitter.com/7JnEBSENpb
— Todd Foreman 🏳️🌈🇪🇺🇫🇷🇺🇸 (@ToddDForeman) January 1, 2022
Meanwhile, during his New Year’s speech, President Emmanuel Macron promised ambitious plans for France’s EU presidency and reaffirmed his commitment to the progress of Europe. He said: “To make this moment, which only occurs once every 13 years, a time of progress: a time of progress for the control of our borders, our defence, climate transition, equality between women and men, the construction of a new alliance with the African continent, supervision of the major platforms of the internet, and culture in Europe.”
Macron has set a high bar for the EU presidency and deemed 2022 as a year of a turning point for the bloc. While discussing the presidency last month, Macron stressed the need to make Europe powerful, fully sovereign, autonomous, and master of its destiny.
France has set three priorities for its term:
- Introducing minimum wages across the bloc
- Moderating tech giants and conglomerates
- Introducing a carbon tax on imports
Macron has also advocated for an improved Schengen area to protect European borders better amid the migration crisis. Furthermore, he aims to revise the budgetary rules to address Europe’s deficit, promote investment and growth, and improve defences.
La Tour #Eiffel in 🇪🇺 colors as 🇫🇷 begins its EU presidency with the new year. We will be actively promoting a stronger, more capable & responsible Europe, in complementarity with #NATO pic.twitter.com/XnmCov8E27
— Muriel Domenach (@MurielDomenach) January 1, 2022
European leaders hailed Macron’s plan, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying, “Together, we will work for a more digital, ecological and social Europe, whose voice is heard in the world.” Likewise, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz advocated for “more sovereign and strong Europe.” To this end, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, “Our French friends can count on our support from the first day to the last to prepare the ground for a sustainable economic recovery, in the fight against the climate crisis, in digitalisation and for a more sovereign Europe.”
However, France’s plans for the presidency are likely to be disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that Macron will stand for re-election in April; it is believed that Macron will officially announce his bid for re-election in February. It is unclear how French right-wing candidates would approach an EU presidency if they were elected into office, though it is assumed that they would take up a less unified and multilateral approach than Macron.
Regardless of what happens in April, the EU presidency will allow Macron to display France as a strong and committed European power. In this regard, Claire Demesmay at the Berlin think-tank Marc-Bloch said, “The EU presidency gives him a welcome platform to put his European record to the forefront and differentiate himself from his rivals, and bring new proposals, new ideas to the table.”