Companies “are completely mixed up in the Brussels bureaucracy like a fly in a spider’s web”, according to the Secretary of State for Europe

Faced with the energy and digital transition, France needs significant capital. Nearly 70 billion euros per year for ten years if we are to believe the latest report by economist Jean Pisani-Ferry. Will Europe help us and how? Laurence Boone, Secretary of State for Europe, was the eco guest on Monday June 5, 2023.

franceinfo: Will Europe help France in financing the energy transition?

Laurence Boone: With the recovery plan, after the pandemic, Europe put 750 billion euros on the table, including 250 billion dedicated to the energy transition. When France implements a 100 billion plan, 40 billion euros come from Europe precisely for the energy and digital transition.

Is Europe doing enough?

The answer is no. We, France, push a lot so that Europe faces a lot more. There are 70 to 100 billion euros left in a European fund that is running out… we want that and the money continues to go into the transition.

Isn’t there a risk of distortion of competition between European countries?

I push for more flexibility in the use of funds. Because there are a lot of funds, but the actors in the field, the regions, the companies, the entrepreneurs, are completely mixed up in the Brussels bureaucracy like a fly in a spider’s web. (…). I tell you a preview: Thursday evening in Marseille will be announced the flexibility of the funds and the possibility of using them longer… which was not the case until now and what the regions were asking us for.