Emanuel Macron: These are the priorities of the French EU Presidency

The President of France Emanuel Macron set as its goal French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 January, to make Europe “strong in the world”, proposing the reform of the Schengen Area to better protect Europe ‘s borders and the creation of a new fiscal framework.

In a press conference he gave to the Elysee, the French president did not hide the ambitions for this presidency, which will coincide with the election campaign and the French presidential elections in April, and the parliamentary elections in June 2022.

Balkans

According to the EIA, Macron called for the EU to “re-commit” and “reinvest” in Western Balkans in the face of “new tensions” in the region and “interventions by regional powers” seeking to destabilize Europe, he said.

“This region is experiencing new tensions today. “History repeats itself, tragedy sometimes as well,” he said, announcing the holding of a session for the Western Balkans, next June.

Macron said the EU should pursue a policy of “re-engagement” and investment in the region to facilitate its economic integration and “fight intervention, manipulation of various regional powers seeking to destabilize Europe through the Balkans. “, He stressed, without naming these forces. He also asked for clarification accession perspective of the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Kosovo).

Member states reiterate support for Western Balkans accession in October, but did not set a timetable, calling for more reforms and resolving differences between countries.

Africa

The French President stressed that the European Union should play a more important role for Sahel security He explained that he wanted to “Europeanize” the “security relationship” that France currently has with this region of West Africa, where French troops have been deployed to deal with jihadist guerrillas.

Under the French Presidency, a session between the European Union and the African Union on 17 and 18 February in Brussels. The goal will be to “re-establish” the “somewhat tired” relationship between the two continents. The French leaders referred to an “economic and financial” New Deal with Africa, saying that in international organizations Europe should present a “common strategy” with Africa in terms of education, health and climate.

For environment, Macron said he wanted to negotiate the implementation of a European plan to combat “imported deforestation”. Its aim is to ban the import into the EU of products such as soybeans, beef, palm oil, timber, cocoa, coffee and others, as long as their production contributes to deforestation in the countries from which they are exported.

Digital Europe

In addition, Macron said he wanted to turn Europe into “digital power“Through funds for the financing of start-ups and the implementation of a”real tax for multinationals“, According to telegrams from AFP and Reuters, which are invoked by APE BPE.

France will promote the creation of these European funds to finance start-ups and other “digital technology players” by mobilizing “institutional investors”. Of the top 10 companies in the world today, eight are in the technology sector and none are European, Macron said, explaining that he wants to “create a real, unified digital market” with “simplified” rules in Europe.

“No” to the symbolic boycott of the Winter Olympics

Macron was asked about her relationship Of Britain with the France, who are tense because of immigration and fishing permits and replied that the British government is not doing what it says it will do. Argued that London pushed for AUKUS security pact between Britain, Australia and US, which resulted in cancellation of the French submarine contract by Australia.

He also called on the British government to “cooperate in good faith” with France immigrant blamed Britain for “the British economic model being based on the illegal work of foreigners”.

For diplomatic but not a sports boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, he said, would be a “very small and symbolic” measure. France has already announced that it will decide whether to proceed with the diplomatic boycott in cooperation with the other EU countries.

The United States, Canada and Britain have announced a “diplomatic boycott” of the Games, accusing Beijing of human rights abuses, particularly in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

“We must not politicize” them Olympic Games, Macron said, explaining that he would prefer to work with the International Olympic Committee to ensure the protection of athletes around the world instead of using symbolic boycotts.

France will take over the rotating EU presidency on 1 January 2022, for first time from 2008.