FRENCH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
EUROPE’S SOVEREIGNTY
AT HEART
As French President Emmanuel Macron spelled out, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union focused on recovery, strength and a sense of belonging. It embodied Europe’s key priorities: cooperation, sovereignty and strength to speed up the green and digital transitions by 2030 and stimulate economic recovery
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t was on 1st January 2022 that France took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union with three main themes in its focus: Europe’s sovereignty; climate, social and digital transition; and Europe for 2030: investment, values, youth, culture, health. French President Emmanuel Macron explained the focus of the Presidency with three words: ‘recovery, strength, belonging’, in an effort to embody Europe’s key priorities: cooperation, sovereignty and strength to speed up the green and digital transitions by 2030 and stimulate economic recovery.
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BUSINESS PARTNER | FRANCE 2022
France also focused on emphasising the need for Europe’s technological sovereignty and the relocation of its flagship industries in Europe, such as in the fields of hydrogen production, batteries, semiconductors, outer space, cloud infrastructure technologies, defence and healthcare. However, a more sovereign Europe also means completing the green and digital transitions, building a more social Europe on the basis of the principle of “equal pay for equal work in the same workplace”, European defence integration through the first joint military budget and the European
Intervention Initiative and strengthening the European economy. These goals were formed on the basis of the wishes of European citizens who, according to President Macron, wish for the EU to take more action and work on economic issues, ecological matters and defence integration. The French agenda was based on President Macron’s 2017 Sorbonne speech. The Presidency aimed to provide the final version of the Platform Work Directive, i.e., the economic regulating and accountability of work platforms, as well as the establishment of carbon pricing for imported products at EU borders. This is an issue of economic and ecological efficiency and establishing European legislation on minimum wages. Furthermore, the French Presidency aimed to complete the groundwork for far-reaching changes, such as devising a new growth and investment model for the European Union and the euro area; protecting European values by fortifying democratic values and tools, and expanding the Erasmus programme; introducing intellectual debates bringing together some 100 academics from 27 countries in all subjects of concern to the future of Europe and placing a greater focus on health. When it comes to the Sovereign Europe gaol, this implies strengthening the Schengen area, protecting European borders, controlling migration and improving the asylum policy in line with Europe’s values and the EU’s international commitments; building a stronger Europe that has an improved capability to take action in the fields of security and defence; taking action for the prosperity and stability of its neighbours,
