French Presidency of the EU: Macron’s European bet

With the interview in front of our readers, this Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron intends to mark the kick-off of his French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on January 1. Six months – in reality barely three “useful” months given the presidential and legislative elections in April and June – during which the (quasi) candidate, who had already put forward his pro-European commitment in the 2017 campaign, will hammer home its credo of a “powerful” and “sovereign” Europe, which protects its citizens.

A not without risk in one of the most Eurosceptic countries in the Union and at a time when crises are piling up outside and within its borders: from Russian threats of war in Ukraine to the tragedies of migrants (Calais, Poland / Belarus, Mediterranean, etc.), including the Omicron outbreak which once more triggers disparate reactions among the Twenty-Seven.

The objective of “strategic sovereignty”

So many challenges, Macron insisted on Tuesday at the Elysee Palace, pleading for an EU that asserts itself and takes more control of itself. So he promises to move forward on a Europe of health capable of rediscovering its inventiveness to manufacture vaccines and no longer depend on the Americans, the Chinese or the Russians. This objective of “strategic sovereignty” is found in the field of nuclear energy, to no longer suffer blackmail by Russian gas, the rise of a digital Europe once morest the Gafa, and even more of European defense, one of its battle horses despite the reluctance of many partners who refuse to let go of the American shield, despite its cracks.

If the means of a rotating EU presidency are in fact limited, consisting in organizing summits on themes of its choice (spatial, justice, social, etc.), it is nevertheless a period of French influence. In 2008, Nicolas Sarkozy had acquired a certain ascendancy through his activism in the face of the financial crisis and the Russian invasion – already – of Georgia.

While the patron saint of Europe Angela Merkel has bowed out and her successor Olaf Scholz has not yet imposed her mark, may Paris rely on the Italy of esteemed Mario Draghi in order to put an end to the strict rules of Maastricht, Emmanuel Macron would see himself as leader of the Union. For the last wishes of his mandate, Friday, did he not assure, bravache, that “2022 must be the year of a European turning point”?