“Europe should become a cultural, democratic and educational power (...) we have the strength and the means”, he concluded.
French President Macron outlined to MEPs on Wednesday the main goals and
the political strategy for France’s semester steering the EU.
In a
debate in the Strasbourg hemicycle, President Macron explained that the
promises on which the EU was founded -democracy, progress and peace- are
now under threat, and called for a commitment “to give them new life”.
He warned that the end of the rule of law is the beginning of
authoritarianism and stressed that the EU needs to use dialogue to win
back those that are “drifting away” from democratic principles.
He assured MEPs that the French
Presidency will prioritise legislative files that improve the quality of
employment, ensure decent salaries, reduce the gender wage gap, give
rights to platform workers, fight discrimination and guarantee gender
balance on company boards. He also proposed to include the right to
abortion in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. President Macron
also referred to the climate, digital and security challenges, areas in
which draft laws should be advanced during this semester.
In the field of defence, President
Macron stressed that Europe must be able to anticipate risks and
guarantee its own safety. He underlined that we have to stand firm in
the face of interference and attempts to destabilise Europe, in
particular from Russia, and effectively punish those who violate
international rules.
On behalf of the Commission,
Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič pointed to the fact that European security
is being challenged: “We are ready to take action if necessary”. He
cited the strategic partnership with Africa, relations with Western
Balkan countries as well as Europe’s economic and technological
sovereignty (“we’re bringing technology back to Europe”) as priorities
for the coming months. With regard to the United Kingdom, he said that
the Commission will show good will, but that Europe needs a partner who
does the same.
In their reactions to President Macron’s
speech, group leaders largely welcomed the French priorities but added
further deliverables, including ending unanimous votes in Council in the
field of foreign affairs to be able to respond firmly to, among others,
Russian President “Putin’s behaviour”, tackling the imbalance between
men’s and women’s salaries, and reviewing the Fiscal Pact. Several
speakers demanded progress on rule of law issues concerning Hungary and
Poland, and criticised French Government support to the inclusion of
nuclear power in the new green taxonomy proposals.
You can catch up with the debate here.
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