“We are working on an economic and social resilience plan to support the companies affected by the sanctions” taken in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, this plan will be announced “in a few days”underlines Saturday March 5 on franceinfo Olivier Dussopt, without giving a precise date.
“We want to respond in an effective and targeted way to help the sectors and companies affected”, declared the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, in charge of Public Accounts. “We must also work with the European Commission. Knowing that we already have effective shields, that we are in a period of very strong growth, it is better to take a few days to have an effective and well-crafted plan than to rush“, he added.
Regarding French companies in Russia, “we cannot encourage companies to pack up”, but “we encourage them to a form of solidarity and action” vis-à-vis the policy pursued by France and the European Union in this war in Ukraine, continued Olivier Dussopt.
Numerous sanctions have been taken by Europe, in particular against Russia. Countermeasures “are a possibility”he acknowledges. “The Russian regime has already banned the overflight of its territory to European companies. There is always a possibility of countering the sanctions. This can relate to issues such as energy, which can concern assets, assets that are owned by European or French companies in Russia.”
The French government is working, “at the request of the president, the establishment of a support plan to accompany the companies affected by the sanctions and counter-sanctions”, reaffirmed Olivier Dussopt. Four ships and a yacht have been seized or frozen at this stage by French customs as part of European sanctions against Russia. “Freezing property or bank assets does not mean that we are removing the property”he explained.
“We freeze because the sanctions regulations provide for a freeze. We are in a state of law and when we go towards confiscation, expropriation, we touch on the question of the right to property and this requires criminal proceedings.”
Olivier Dussoptat franceinfo
Fraud is also closely monitored. “If we want the freeze to be effective, we must know what is frozen. This allows us to clearly discern what belongs to the people sanctioned. If during a freeze fraud is discovered, we open procedures”he concluded.
The government forecasts 4% growth for 2022 and “We are on an assumption which consists in maintaining this growth forecast”, said the minister.
“We do not yet know how to measure, no one knows on a global scale, the consequences of this crisis on world growth, therefore on European growth and therefore on French growth”he added.
“We are the first government to have held the 3% rule, to have stabilized the level of debt relative to GDP and to have lowered taxes.”
Olivier Dussoptat franceinfo
“From 2017 to 2020 before the Covid crisis we limited the increase in state spending, public spending in general, to 0.8% per year”he continued. “Despite the crisis, over the five-year period we will have lowered taxes by 50 billion, half for the French and half for companies. We are doing it in a reasonable way and with the desire not to stifle growth so as not to not repeat the mistakes of past years”said Olivier Dussopt.
In addition, Emmanuel Macron in his “Letter to the French”, published in the regional press, indicated that more work would be needed. “We are in a perspective of recovery, it is a concrete and constant line that the President of the Republic has taken. We must produce, be more autonomous, produce wealth because that is what allows solidarity”said the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Recovery, in charge of Public Accounts.