Political scientist Thierry Chopin analyzes the challenges of the French presidency at the Council of the European Union

While France will take the presidency of the Council of the European Union from January 1, 2022, Emmanuel Macron put forward proposals for Europe on Thursday, December 9. “The President of the Republic has traditionally wanted since the start of his five-year term to exercise a form of strategic impetus at the European level. He immediately affirmed a European bias which has not been denied since. Clearly, this French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will start on January 1st, constitutes an opportunity, an opportunity to promote a certain number of subjects, perhaps new ideas in the debate and the European agenda “, declares Thierry Chopin, political scientist at the Jacques Delors Institute, on the set of 23 hours of Franceinfo.

Emmanuel Macron announces that he wants to strengthen European defense. “In fact, questions of defense fall within the competence of States and to decide on defense, it is necessary to obtain unanimity most often”, underlines Thierry Chopin. The political scientist does not envisage the establishment of a common army. On the other hand, “if that means exercising or promoting joint military exercises between the different European armies to try to facilitate very concrete operations, that yes I think it is possible”, he believes.