[3] The initial plans for the presidency included addressing the following areas: (1) civic engagement by youths, (2) defence and security, (3) environmental concerns, (4) migration reform, (5) reevaluation of the economy, (6) relations with Africa, and (7) regulation of online services.
France is therefore preparing to take the helm of the Council of the European Union in a context marked by the end of the coronavirus crisis and an economic slowdown.
On the domestic front, the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris to the Élysée Palace aims to ease bilateral relations, which have been greatly affected by the scandal surrounding the Australian submarines.
Macron used his international prominence and pro-European foreign policy to assert himself as a leading candidate in the presidential race, a position his competitors lacked.
These priorities include establishing political oversight for border management and an emergency support mechanism in times of crisis, organising a summit bringing together the leaders of the European Union and the African Union focused on youth and migration flows, holding a conference on the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union, creating a framework for holding major digital platforms accountable to combat online hate, maintaining the previously adopted programme initiated by France to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and implementing a European minimum wage.
It means feeling a shared emotion before our treasures, the fruits of our heritage and history, from the Pnyx Hill to the golden bulbs of Kraków, and resonating equally with the romantic spirit, from Chopin’s works to Pessoa’s writings.
From ancient Greece to the Roman Empire, from Christianity to the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, we are the heirs to a distinctive approach to the human adventure.”[13]The issue of Ukraine quickly becomes a top priority for the French presidency.
The agenda adopted at the summit, known as the Versailles declaration, formally condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, expressed support for the attacked nation, and reaffirmed Kyiv's aspirations to join the European Union.
Olivier Costa, Professor at the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po, notes that France has been seen as overly preoccupied with its own interests and influenced by its historical hostility towards NATO and the United States.
Reactions were particularly sharp when the French President highlighted the need to keep engaging with Vladimir Putin and pursue a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine.
To further promote cultural engagement, three concerts were held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris, themed “Exploring How Music Enriches Intercultural Dialogue Among Member States,” featuring rare manuscripts from the library.
France, along with the Czech Republic and Sweden — set to assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the near future — committed to making women's economic empowerment their top priority.
On 15 February 2022, in Bordeaux, an informal meeting of the EU Ministers of Labour and Employment was organised, focusing on supporting workers, lifelong learning, and securing career paths amid transitions.
[23] However, the ministerial conference faced criticism in France from the Union Sociale pour l'Habitat, which expressed scepticism and accused the initiative of being “empty words” rather than a concrete commitment.
[24] The creation of the European Political Community (Communauté Politique Européenne) was not originally planned as part of the French EU presidency’s programme.
However, faced with urgent demands from Moldova and Ukraine for accelerated EU membership and recognizing that “integration will take years, likely several decades,” Emmanuel Macron decided in June 2022 to launch the European Political Community.
[26][27] During the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, member states approved all the rules needed to achieve the 55% reduction target for emissions by 2030, including the carbon border tax for Europe.
Sanctions were also imposed on Russia and Belarus, along with six packages targeting individuals involved in the aggression and sectors such as finance, transportation, defence, and energy.
Federico Santopino from the Research and Information Group on Peace and Security is more critical of the Strategic Compass’s relevance and impact, stating, “Before asking what the Union should do, it is essential to agree on what it is supposed to be.
The new Boussole stratégique certainly does not provide that clarity.”[28] On environmental matters, the French presidency urged the European Commission to accelerate the ecological transition, emphasising that “the human suffering and economic losses due to more frequent extreme weather events, such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires”, are intensifying worldwide, with Europe being no exception.
[29] The French presidency achieved notable economic progress by securing the adoption of a reciprocity instrument for the EU regarding public procurement markets.
[31] Additionally, the "Scale-up" initiative was launched, mobilising €3.5 billion to support innovation and the growth of emerging players by engaging institutional investors.