Emmanuel Macron took over the rotating presidency of European Union promising a new model for growth
The President of France – Emmanuel Macron took over the rotating presidency of European Union (E.U.) on Saturday, i.e., January 1, 2022, promising new model for growth which includes innovation, job creation and job security.
Macron also promised that France would focus on making the E.U. competitive globally and be in line with climate harm reduction initiatives on the other side of the pandemic.
In addition, it will also promote an E.U.-wide minimum wage, a carbon tax and greater regulation of big tech.
Speaking on the occasion, Macron said, “This agenda for a sovereign Europe will be accelerated with the French Presidency. Europe must rise to the major economic, educational, migration and military challenges.”
Taking it to twitter, Macron tweeted (translated to English), “France today takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is a source of pride and a responsibility that I want to carry on behalf of all French women, all French people, for all Europeans. Thank you @JJansaSDS for the progress made by the Slovenian Presidency.” Original tweet in French:
La France prend ce jour la Présidence du Conseil de l’Union européenne. C’est une fierté et une responsabilité que je veux porter au nom de toutes les Françaises, de tous les Français, pour tous les Européens. Merci @JJansaSDS pour les progrès accomplis par la Présidence slovène.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 1, 2022
The E.U. rotating presidency comes at a time when Macron is preparing for general elections in April 2022. Although he has not yet officially confirmed if he would contest for another term. He is expected to make a formal announcement of his re-election bid in February 2022.
The E.U.’s rotating presidency will help Macron showcase France as a European power. This aligns with other objectives and messages he hopes to convey to the domestic electorate in the upcoming elections.
Macron said in a statement, “The French presidency must be a moment of truth for the regulation and accountability of digital platforms, the carbon pricing at European borders on imported products, minimum wages and our relationship with Africa.”
France also has support from Germany’s newly formed coalition Government. Both Germany and France agree that great power competition, notably between the United States (U.S.) on the one hand and China and Russia on the other, has the potential to negatively impact the E.U. Meanwhile, Germany will be hosting the next G7 Summit as it took over the G7 presidency on January 1, 2022.
This is France’s 13th term of E.U. presidency. The E.U. presidency rotates every 6 months among the member states of the 27-nation bloc. After the completion of France’s term, Czech Republic will take over the E.U.’s rotating presidency.
