EM France: EUFP: How France can drive the European agenda and encourage public debate on the EU
Our president Yves Bertoncini was the guest of Henri Oberdorff on 6 January on RCF Isère in the programme le quart d’heure européen, a programme dedicated to Europe in partnership with the Université Populaire Européenne de Grenoble and Europe Direct Grenoble. This was an opportunity for him to come back to the main projects of France during the first half of 2022, which promises to be rich in European events.
The French triptych for the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (FPEU): recovery, power and belonging
Assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU is an opportunity for France to put on the agenda issues that are deemed to be priorities for the country. Although it is a question of building on existing initiatives, Yves Bertoncini reminds us that the FPEU is a time when France will be able to be a driving force for its ideas at the European level, while showing balance, neutrality and compromise. The French priorities unveiled by the President of the Republic, based on the triptych recovery, power and belonging, concern first of all discussions on investments at European level to face the crisis, but above all to complete them with a common European investment plan. Yves Bertoncini added that the related idea was to review the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact. Secondly, the proposals on “power” concern defence, collective security and Europe as an industrial power that is acquiring tools to fight terrorism. Finally, France should encourage cultural and civic initiatives, such as the European civic service, but also recall the protection of the rule of law.
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