End clap for the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. French diplomats left Brussels on Thursday after transferring the files to their Czech counterparts. Czechia will take over the rotating presidency from December 31. Emmanuel Macron, a convinced European, had repeatedly stressed the importance of this half-yearly presidency to him, particularly since it would coincide the presidential and legislative elections. Despite the fact that the PFUE failed to implement its reform agenda within six months, there was significant progress made on certain issues.
The PFUE launched with brilliance with a speech delivered by the President in the Republic before the European Parliament on Jan 19. It presented an ambitious six-month program: “strengthening European sovereignity”, in particular through military autonomy, reforming Schengen agreements and building “a treaty for peace and friendship with Africa” within the aegis EU. Concrete reforms that Emmanuel Macron wanted to link to a reflection about the future of the Union.
However, France’s ambitions were quickly thwarted by geopolitical developments. France organized a coordinated European response after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. Franceinfo’s Nicolai Von Ondarza, the head of the division, stated that “The French presidency helped maintain the EU unity during the war” and had passed five rounds of sanctions against Russia. The German Institute for International and Security Affairs. The French agenda was upset by the conflict in Ukraine, and it then accelerated it.
A large part of the French program was confirmed by war, as a diplomat from France at “Liberation” stated: “The war which could have stopped us actually allowed us to place the bricks for the French agenda that was justified by international circumstances. Naturally, there was a synergy between war and sovereignty. The summit held in Versailles by France on March 10th and 11 saw European leaders adopt the term “European sovereignty”, particularly with regard to Russia and China. These terms combine the strengthening of European defense capacities with the independence of energy supply chains and energy supply chains.
France also had to rethink some of its positions after the war in Ukraine. The PFUE, which was opposed to the EU’s expansion without a reform of its functioning institutions, finally agreed to a compromise regarding the granting of the status to Ukraine and Moldova as a candidate country.
The war in Ukraine could lead to other texts being adopted easily. The text on regulation of digital giants (the Gafam), which is all American, should have elicited strong reactions from the United States. The reform passed without opposition. Washington did not want to break the west front. Even more, the PFUE was able to adopt in extremis (the Member States reached an agreement on the “climate pack” and “the adjustment towards objective 55” on the night of June 28-29). This agreement aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
There are many other political agreements as well: the carbon tax, European minimum wage, European asylum-immigration program, Schengen reform, single shipper, and the trade treaty between New Zealand and New Zealand. All of these can be completed and approved by the Czech Presidency. According to “Liberation”, more than 90% of the program was implemented by the Elysee. This would be equivalent to 100 agreements reached within the Council of Ministers of the Union and 32 compromises with the European Parliament. All of these were made after 2150 meetings. Clement Beaune, Minister Delegate for Europe, received a “massive evaluation” on Sunday 26 June regarding France.
Despite being fully satisfied by the government, the PFUE has its flaws, especially in economic terms. The Stability and Growth Pact and the famous public deficit rule of 3% GDP were questioned. The second post-Covid recovery program was also quickly forgotten. The agreement was reached on a 15% minimum tax on large multinational profits, which was blocked by the Hungarian Viktor Orban.
Emmanuel Macron failed to establish his “European Political Community” to accept third-country candidates and the United Kingdom. Worse, the majority of its partners have refused to reform the European treaties due to the new major enlargement in the Western Balkans (Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia). However, the president hoped to relaunch this file with the report from his “citizenconference on the future Europe” last May.
France has left his position as head of the European Union after six months (the previous one was 2008 under Nicolas Sarkozy). This success can be attributed to Emmanuel Macron. Nicolai von Ondarza nuance: Franceinfo: The relative success of France’s presidency can be attributed to efficient administration and skilled negotiators. A little less to Emmanuel Macron’s leadership.
