(Paris) In the midst of a political crisis in France, President Emmanuel Macron is forced to leave Paris for several days to take part successively in the EU, G7 and NATO summits where important decisions will be taken.
Posted at 10:00 a.m.
The actions and words of the French head of state will be closely scrutinized by the many leaders he will meet between now and the end of June, marking the end of the French presidency of the Council of the EU. Will he appear weakened on the international scene by his electoral setbacks and the loss of the absolute majority in the National Assembly?
This will not be the case, assures the presidential palace of the Élysée. The result of the legislative elections “does not affect in any way the mandate on which the president was re-elected for five years”, he said, stressing that in many countries, “relative majorities are much more the rule than ‘exception “.
An adviser to the president indicates that he perceives in European capitals “more curiosity about the meaning of the result (of the elections) than concern about France’s ability to assume leadership in Europe”.
But Emmanuel Macron could see his image of “strong man of the EU” chipped if France became ungovernable as some officials fear. “A weakening is likely” because the president will have, “without the majority in Parliament, to devote a lot of time and energy to domestic issues, to the detriment of foreign policy”, predicts Paolo Mattera, professor of contemporary history at the University Roma Tre in Rome.
In Brussels for the EU
The first meeting, Thursday and Friday in Brussels for the traditional summer summit of the 27, promises to be rather consensual since a unanimous agreement is expected on the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine, as well as Moldova. This should mark “an important, positive, perhaps even historic moment,” said French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune.
The president will defend his idea of creating a “European political community” to welcome neighboring countries, but not members of the EU, such as Ukraine, the Western Balkan countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
The 27 will also take stock with the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, of the tense economic situation, with high inflation and a risk of “fragmentation of the European economies” in the light of the rate differences (“spread”) which keep on growing.
In Germany for the G7
After returning to Paris on Friday afternoon, Emmanuel Macron will join the castle of Elmau on Sunday, in the Bavarian Alps. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will welcome the leaders of the G7 there to discuss sanctions against Russia, the reconstruction of Ukraine, but also world food security, threatened by the blockade of Ukrainian cereals, as well as the double challenge of energy security and the transition to green energies.
The French president is expected to make announcements as part of a “Global Alliance for Food Security” and support a German proposal for a “shield against climate risks”, according to the Elysee.
In Madrid for NATO
On June 28, he will travel to Madrid for the NATO summit, which brings together its 30 member states for two days.
The discussions will once again revolve around the war in Ukraine, which has given strong visibility to the Alliance, while the president had deemed it in a state of “brain death” in 2019, a formula that had made people cringe.
By receiving his Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, President Macron reaffirmed his “support for Finland and Sweden in their sovereign choice to join the Alliance”, two candidacies currently blocked by Turkey.
In Lisbon for the oceans
He will complete his diplomatic marathon in Lisbon, on June 30, for the UN conference on the preservation of the seabed, threatened by climate change and human activity.
He should announce the candidature of France for the organization of the next conference on the Oceans, in 2025.