France took, on Saturday January 1, for six months the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, which represents the interests of the 27 member states vis-à-vis the Commission and the European Parliament. Emmanuel Macron hears the‘”to use to advance Europe but also its electoral campaign”, says researcher Christian Lequesne, professor at Sciences Po and specialist in European issues.
franceinfo: Why did Europe take such a big place in the wishes of Emmanuel Macron on December 31?
Christian Lequesne: Emmanuel Macron’s European commitment is known and long-standing. And there is this period of French presidency that Emmanuel Macron intends to use to advance Europe, of course, but also for his electoral campaign. It intends to capitalize on the actions that it will be able to carry out at the European level to say: “I have leadership, I am the representative of a great country which is getting things done, etc.” It flatters the French. In addition, the re-election of Emmanuel Macron is important for other European capitals because if a far-right candidate is elected in France. This also has consequences for the whole of Europe.
What are the major challenges awaiting France during these six months of presidency of the European Union?
First of all, six months goes by very quickly. So we must immediately qualify the importance of the event, bearing in mind that compromises in the Union are often built over a period of more than six months. But it still allows a number of questions to be pushed onto the agenda. I think there is the Schengen reform which is important, ie our ability to better manage migratory flows. The question, of course, of the criteria for climate change, also the regulation of the activity of large digital platforms. And then the relationship with Africa.
“2022 must be the year of a European turning point”, said Emmanuel Macron. What is this European turning point?
I think he has the idea of reforming Europe in mind. But I am not sure that this will go as far as a reform of the treaties because of the consequences to be managed, in particular ratifications, the organization of referenda, etc. However, the configuration of a re-election of Emmanuel Macron and the new coalition in Berlin makes it possible to push a lot of files, to ensure a leadership in Europe which was more difficult in the previous period. Because it is always easier for a French president to provide leadership in a second term. And then, this coalition in Germany with the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Liberals, shares a certain number of approaches, in particular on the revival of the economy that the German Christian Democrats did not necessarily have before. But for that, Emmanuel Macron must be re-elected.