Roadmap to a successful European Presidency

Politique Internationale - France has just taken over the Presidency of the European Union. What signs and concrete results will show that this presidency has been effective?

Bruno Le Maire - The President of the Republic has set a strategic objective for the French Presidency of the European Union: to assert our European sovereignty. What does this mean? Firstly, it means defending our geopolitical and economic interests. It also means our ability to locate new industrial value chains in Europe and in France to master the technologies that will make us powerful in the 21st century: semi-conductors, hydrogen, artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, renewable launchers. Finally, it means preserving an economic model that manages to combine economic efficiency with the fight against inequality, growth and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of our Presidency will be to rally the Member States around this shared ambition. Its success will depend on the concrete results we achieve. We must do more than just talk; we must decide.

In the economic and financial spheres, the transposition into law of the agreement on international taxation, the introduction of a carbon adjustment mechanism at borders and the adoption of the Digital Market Act and Digital Service Act on digital regulation will be tangible signs of our Presidency's success.

P. I. - At a time when a new Chancellor is taking over from Angela Merkel, what thoughts and hopes does this new chapter in Franco-German relations inspire in you?

B. L. M. - Angela Merkel is a historic figure who has left her mark on Germany, Franco-German relations and Europe. She will be remembered as the embodiment of German unity regained. If we look to the future, the greatest challenge facing us is the assertion of European power in the face of China and the United States. The accelerating emergence of Chinese power and the withdrawal of the United States leave us no other choice. If we want to be a free and sovereign continent, we must join forces to become the third pole of world power. From this point of view, I am convinced that we will be able to find common ground with the new coalition to move in this direction. Germany, through its coalition agreement, has already said that it shares this common ambition.