The French touch to the Council Presidency - Arcturus Group
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The French touch to the Council Presidency
Sommaire
Interview with MEP MariePierre VEDRENNE 49
Priorities of the French Presidency 1014
Political calendar for the next 6 months 15
Welcome to France
wHAT ABOUT Portugal? 1622
12
The final word 23
Interview with Renew Europe Group necessarily protect them, that unfair
competition exists within the EU, etc. For
these reasons, the social aspect of
presidents of committees or delegations,
and have important reports. These are very
strong issues that we anticipated before the
MEP MariePierre Vedrenne "belonging" is key. French Presidency to have these priority
subjects under the EUFP.
• ViceChair of the Committee on International Trade and the Delegation It is necessary to clearly involve citizens in
the definition of the European project with Moreover, this presidency will be special
to the ACPEU Joint Parliamentary Assembly the conference on the future of Europe, as because there will be presidential elections
• Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs requested by the President. Furthermore, in France, so we will have an even more
• Substitute of the Committee on Petitions and the Delegation to the we want to preserve and encourage important role. What we are doing is also
European unity and demonstrate that this is strengthening the link with the President,
CariforumEU Parliamentary Committee
a French Presidency, but it is at the service with Clément Beaune and with the whole
France will soon take over the presidency of Europe and that France is listening to all government.
of the Council of the European Union and our partners. Under this heading, the
at the same time start a new "trio" of priorities are climate, digital and social Furthermore, we are not only in a French
presidencies, together with the Czech issues, which we will discuss in greater logic but also in a political family logic within
Republic and Sweden. Can you tell us a bit detail. the Renew group, with which we have
more about the long-term priorities of this already had an important meeting in Paris.
trio and those of France for the first half of You were recently elected co-chair of the Specific meetings are also organised
2022? French delegation (Renaissance) of the between the coordinators and the members
Renew Europe group. Knowing that this of the French government.
Let me start by saying that the French delegation is the largest in terms of Therefore, this French presidency is also the
Presidency of the Council of the EU (EUFP) number of MEPs and that you belong to presidency of the Renew family. What
is not just a six-month period during which a the presidential majority in France, what characterises all of us in this political family
State manages the agenda, chairs the are the intentions of your delegation for is that we are pro-Europeans, who are not
various Council meetings, etc. It is also a Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE the EUFP? naïve about the weaknesses of the EU, but
period during which we have a strong context has changed. We have therefore who are fully committed to defending
European commitment. This presidency, as also had to take this into account in defining Our intention since the beginning of the European values, to defending the rule of
well as our European commitment, and the orientations of the EUFP. mandate is to continue to demonstrate that law, to defending a Europe that continues to
more specifically that of the President of the French MEPs are MEPs who have Europe at assert itself on the international stage.
Republic, is something we prepare on the It is for this very reason that the triptych that their heart, who are present in Brussels, in Consequently, our mindset will be
long term. has been drawn up contains the words: Strasbourg, etc. If we are committed, it is determination and involvement.
recovery, power, belonging. The first is also because we want to change Europe
Our vision of Europe, as detailed in the "recovery" because now that the Recovery and make it evolve. This will continue to
President's Sorbonne speech, includes very Plan has been adopted, it must be deployed animate us under the EUFP. In parallel to the EUFP, the French
clear ambitions: a Europe that is more in order to respond to the challenges we presidential election will occupy an even
united, that is democratic, that is more face and guarantee a more innovative, It is also a strength to be 23 MEPs because more important part of the public space at
sovereign and that asserts itself on the environmentally responsible and socially fair we are present in all the parliamentary national level in the coming months. How
international stage, since it has all the recovery. Europe's "power" is a second committees, which enables us to find our do you see the articulation between the
capacities to do so. We want to make all this extremely important issue, because a place both in the Renew Europe group and PFUE and the French presidential election
a reality under the EUFP. sovereign Europe is a Europe that asserts more generally in the Parliament. at the European level? What difficulties do
itself as a different model from the United you think should be anticipated?
Since the election of the President as well as States and China, and that plays a driving Our more political objective, which it is
the election of our Renaissance delegation and leading role in climate and digital essential to pursue under the French Our opponents will say that this is bad
to the European Parliament, and taking into issues, among others. Finally, "belonging" is Presidency, is to obtain positions of timing, I would not say that it is. As MEPs,
account the health crisis (which the way to respond to the issues that our responsibility, continue to have many we will not be subject to the reserve period
unfortunately is not yet behind us), the citizens have: that Europe does not coordinators, have presidents or vice- and will be fully present in our committees
5
and during the trialogue periods. The Some people are talking about a half- and that, under the French Presidency, the is all about. This makes it possible to
President of the Republic has always stated presidency? challenge will be to give full substance to guarantee an openness that is not naïve.
that he is pro-European and that he wants this concept.
to invest himself fully to regain French It will not be a half-presidency and I can tell This is what we are trying to demonstrate
influence in each of the institutions. you that the President of the Republic would We need to implement actions for our under the French Presidency, and this is the
not accept it. He is particularly familiar with fellow citizens, which require political influence that I am trying to have, both
However, this EUFP will be different from a all the issues and all the topics; he has support, such as that provided by Julien within the Renew group and globally in the
classic EUFP, even if it can be said that we Europe at heart. I think he is counting on Denormandie on mirror measures, but also European Parliament, where there is this
have never experienced a classic EUFP, both his ministers and the Renaissance other issues on which I am working in very strong free trade prism. It is to say that
since the one that took place in 2008 under delegation to be fully involved. We are collaboration with Frank Riester, namely the we are not, as we are sometimes
Nicolas Sarkozy was right before the Lisbon behind the President, and it is out of the triptych "reciprocity on public contracts, caricatured, the evil French protectionists.
Treaty. question not to make this EUFP a success. unfair foreign subsidies and anti-coercion". No, we simply want to play on equal terms.
There will be several phases for the PFUE: You mention the fear of certain States or On mirror measures, this is not just a French
the time of involvement of the President of In recent years, the European Union's trade certain sectors regarding retaliatory expectation: look at the new coalition in
the Republic and the ministers until mid- relations with certain third countries have measures. The challenge is precisely to Germany and the "no Mercosur as it
March, then in a second phase a PFUE become increasingly complex (US tariffs, make progress on both mirror measures and stands" position, look at the votes on the
which will continue to progress with the the UK's exit from the EU, Mercosur, this triptych. I can understand certain CAP, the amendments request mirror
Permanent Representation and the relations with China, etc.). In your capacity European partners or certain players in clauses without naming them. On these
parliamentarians and finally, the post- as vice-chair of the Committee on different sectors who have suffered elements, we have a majority in the
election period. So, it is true that this will be International Trade (INTA), what do you retaliatory measures in the past, and European Parliament, so it is not just a
a three-stage EUFP. think of the French priority in agricultural inevitably it is always the same sectors that Franco-French demand. We even co-signed,
matters on "mirror clauses", i.e. the are targeted by our partners to divide the with the Commission and the Council, a
There will be highlights in the first part of imposition of reciprocity in terms of European Union. But if we make progress joint declaration on the CAP asking the
this EUFP. I am not revealing any secret if I sanitary and environmental standards for on this triptych, it will enable us to make our Commission to work on this subject.
say that there will be, for example, an EU- agri-food products imported into the European partners understand that we are
Africa summit as well as a real willingness to European Union? If this measure were protecting them and that they will no longer So, it is certain that we do not have
have strong moments on certain subjects applied at European level, would the EU be the targets of retaliatory measures unanimity on the subject for the moment,
that are close to our hearts in order to not be exposed to retaliatory measures because this toolbox we will have in our but gradually, awareness of this issue is
respond to the climate, digital technology from its trading partners, measures that possession, will be fully reinforced. spreading, as shown by the joint tribune
and Europe's place in the world. could also be applied to other sectors, such signed by Julien Denormandie and his
as the Airbus-Boeing conflict? At the time, the challenge of Jean-Claude Austrian counterpart on mirror clauses.
Finally, we are still at the stage of defining Juncker's presidency was "a Europe that
the moment of the official announcement of You are right to note that we are in a context defends, a Europe that protects and that
the President's candidacy. An extremely of confrontation in trade matters that is gives the means to act". Our fellow citizens As soon as she took office at the end of
important moment will obviously be the becoming more and more prevalent. Even if sometimes find it difficult to see the Europe 2019, President Von der Leyen stated her
President's visit to the Strasbourg we have Joe Biden at the head of the White that protects. However, if we focus on the intention to make the ecological transition
Parliament in January, which will be a high House, we must not be completely naive mirror measures, we can see that we have, the main priority of her Commission. On 14
point for the PFUE, and I think that he will about the positions of the Americans in notably with the CAP, this desire to pull July this year, the European Commission
be scrutinised on this occasion for the trade matters. On this subject, we Europe upwards and to have increasingly presented a package of measures
presidential election. We are going to do succeeded, before the French Presidency, in high standards. This is very important for us, comprising a dozen legislative initiatives
everything we can to make our action clear influencing the revision of the trade policy we must absolutely accompany the covering several policy areas, entitled "Fit
and visible and to make sure that we are as by obtaining a trade policy that is open, transition, and this is also why we fought for for 55", on which the co-legislators are
audible and as influential as possible in each sustainable and firmer, which is already a the CAP budget. Therefore, products currently working. This green transition will
of the institutions. first success. This means that we have entering our internal market must have the have a major impact on the labour market,
achieved the concept of strategic autonomy same high standards, that's what reciprocity creating new jobs for the highly skilled, but
77
also eliminating or changing more our fellow citizens find new jobs. Barbara report, who made it possible to develop our You're putting me in a difficult position with
traditional jobs. What initiatives could the Pompili would say it much better than I position in the EP on this challenge. this question! I necessarily want to talk
EU take on this issue to ensure that the would, as she comes from the northern about my region, Brittany, but if I do that,
transition benefits everyone and that no region, characterized by its former mining Digital technology, like the ecological my colleagues will tell me that they are
citizen is left behind? operations: the main issue is anticipation. transition, must become a source of seeing too much of my Breton prism.
Personally, I should have the chance, in the opportunity and must not leave anyone
I am extremely happy with the angle you are Employment Committee, to be the behind. For this to happen, people must What is interesting about France is that it is
taking on this issue because we must never rapporteur for my group on the Social Fund have access to digital technology, which rich in its diversity, both in geographical,
forget the meaning of why we are taking for the Climate. There will also be all the means that investment is first and foremost culinary, cultural and sporting terms. We
measures and for whom we are issues of the reform of the ETS, and others, at stake. also have our overseas territories, which
implementing them. Approaching the but it is essential to keep this prism of mean that Europe is present in all five
ecological transition from the social angle is anticipation of transitions, skills and training Our objective is not to demonise the digital continents.
essential and this logic has not always been in order to avoid leaving anyone behind. giants and platforms, but to regulate. We
shared by everyone. For example, whether Therefore, the social prism is strong under need to regulate not only "offline" but also I think that what really impressed our
in my region (Brittany) or in France more the French Presidency, it is a subject on "online". When we see the reality of colleagues from Renew when they came to
generally, we have sometimes wanted to which the Portuguese Presidency has platform workers, we have a real issue of Paris was their visit to the Louvre. It is both a
implement certain measures that have not worked enormously and on which we must upward social convergence, of guaranteeing great symbol of France, especially a France
always been well received by our fellow continue to make progress in our turn. workers' rights, it is a moral duty. The open to the world, but also a magnificent
citizens, which is why it is essential to question is also the employment place, for all ages, to understand not only
accompany this transition. relationship: are they employees? Self- France but also the French.
The Commission has also made the digital employed? Other? The debates will
Another extremely important angle is to transition one of its main priorities (along sometimes be difficult, but we note that
always show the ecological transition as an with the ecological transition). This is many States are developing positions in line
opportunity and not as a constraint. And it is reflected in the Digital Services Act (DSA) with those of the Parliament. Our strength is
up to us, as politicians, to create these and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which that with the adoption of Sylvie Brunet's
opportunities and to show them, this will be represent major advances in the field and report, the Parliament has reached a
our role and our work. whose trialogues will be held under the majority position on this subject, which was
French Presidency. In addition, it also not necessarily easy to achieve at the
When we talk about ecological transition, intends to legislate on the social aspect of beginning. We have managed to have a
we often target agriculture. However, it does digital technology by presenting an strong and united Parliament and our
not only concern one sector: it involves initiative on 8 December on platform challenge will be to maintain it under the
ecology, industry, housing, agriculture, and workers. What do you expect from this French Presidency. We are five Renaissance
transport. It is on these five issues that we legislative proposal? MEPs in the EMPL Committee, so I can
must really work and that the government assure you that we will be extremely vigilant
and the recovery plan are fully committed. The DSA and DMA are emblematic texts on on the Commission's proposal.
That is this reason why it is essential to roll which the EUFP absolutely wants to Furthermore, we often exchange with
out the recovery plan so that it is continue to make progress and on which we Commissioner Nicolas Schmit to ensure that
implemented. We must therefore mobilise have managed to have French members of the Parliament's position is taken into
the funds of the recovery plan as quickly as the Renaissance delegation involved to account.
possible in all the Member States, at the risk ensure the right timing and the right
that this could have extremely important position. This is linked to what I mentioned
social consequences. Therefore, it is really a before about the desire to anticipate. On a completely different note, what
global issue that we have to implement. would you recommend to someone who
On platform workers, it was a Frenchwoman doesn't know France in terms of must-see
I also remain convinced that, in terms of from our delegation, Sylvie Brunet, who was places?
skills and training, it is essential that we help in charge as rapporteur on the own-initiative
9
The priorities of the French
Presidency of the Council
In the context of the crisis of multilateralism and the climate crisis, the French Presidency of
the EU Council will be keen to put forward its priorities, in particular on climate, digital and
social issues. The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs has already announced that the
objectives of the French Presidency will be built around three notions: "recovery, power and
belonging". In this sense, certain priorities have been identified by the various ministers and
3 Strengthening relations with Africa and the Balkans
the President of the Republic: France's ambition during the Presidency will be to lead the EU in a logic of accompanying
the African continent in its development, its ecological transition and its control of borders,
particularly around the Mediterranean. The objective here is to counter the ever-increasing
1 Schengen: a reform to strengthen external border
control
influence of China in Africa. To this end, a summit of African and European leaders will take
place in May. France will also want the EU to reinvest in the Western Balkans, which have so
far been neglected in favour of Russia and China.
France wishes to put in place a political management of the Schengen area with regular
meetings of the competent ministers. This new operating mode will be accompanied by the
4 Standards for workers: the introduction of a European
creation of an emergency support mechanism at the borders in the event of a migratory crisis,
with the provision of reinforcements (police and equipment) by the Member States for the
countries affected. minimum wage
France will defend the application of the principle of non-admission of migrants. According to Already a major priority of the European Commission's programme, Emmanuel MACRON has
this principle, any illegal immigrant apprehended within 20 km of an internal border can be made the European minimum wage his major social project for Europe.
considered as never having been in that country. This implies an automatic return to the country
of provenance, provided it is an EU country. This principle already exists in EU law, but its According to the legislative project, each Member State will have to evaluate the legal minimum
implementation is complex. During the EUFP, Emmanuel Macron will therefore push for a wage through various criteria, including purchasing power and the poverty rate, in order to set a
strengthening of the means allocated to it. wage sufficient to allow decent living and working conditions throughout the continent.
The objective is to encourage countries with external borders to mobilise more resources in Negotiations in the Council of the European Union on this text should begin in the first half of
controlling their borders. In parallel, France will support an increase in the resources of 2022 and represent a unique opportunity for France to set the first milestones for a social
FRONTEX, which is necessary to achieve this objective. Europe, more harmonised and fairer in terms of working conditions. It should be noted that
countries in which the minimum wage is determined exclusively by collective bargaining will not
This is a real ideological break, as the French President was opposed to it at the beginning of his have to introduce a statutory minimum wage.
term in office, but the Belarusian migration crisis has created the right conditions for the
reintroduction of this principle into the European debate.
5 Platform workers: towards a stricter framework?
2 Towards a Europe of Defence?
Clément BEAUNE, Secretary of State for European Affairs, mentioned the implementation of a
reform during the EUFP on platform workers. This legislative initiative aims to improve the
In the wake of the "strategic compass" initiated during the German Presidency, France will working conditions of these workers, their access to social protection and collective
support the elaboration of a European defence and security white paper outlining the state of representation for the self-employed. A reform that is eagerly awaited by the sector and that will
threats and setting out guidelines. The ambition is to define an European strategic sovereignty. help modernise the EU in response to the new realities of this type of work.
11
6 Gender equality: progress on the regulatory
framework
France will defend the drafting of a directive requiring salary transparency between men and
10 Green Pact: carbon neutrality in 2050 as a target
One of the axes of this EUFP will also be to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To this end,
women within companies. This action in favour of gender equality will also be carried out by
the course set will be to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030, with the definition of a
accelerating the examination of texts on the equal distribution of seats on boards of directors.
legally binding target for the restoration of biodiversity and the fight against deforestation.
Clément BEAUNE praised the ambition of the measures in the "Fit for 55" package,
expressing his confidence in the precise legislative tools that will be implemented, the
7 Conference on the future of Europe: a revision of the
treaties in sight
Emmanuel MACRON wants to simplify the functioning of the EU to make it more
border carbon adjustment mechanism being the most ambitious tool. The border carbon
adjustment mechanism will make cement, steel, iron, aluminium, fertilisers and electricity
subject to "emissions certificates" to offset their carbon emissions.
In this sense, the Secretary of State for European Affairs was keen to temper the German
understandable and therefore more accessible to the citizens. This objective could lead to a
position of exempting the US and China for fear of trade retaliation. France's position would
revision of the treaties.
then be to obtain an agreement at European level while remaining open to international
negotiations with countries that shared the same position. There would therefore be no
reason to impose adjustment mechanisms on countries sharing the same transition
ambitions as the EU.
8 International agreements: the issue of mirror clauses
The debates on mirror clauses focus primarily on the agricultural sector. France would like to
On the issue of autonomy of supply of rare materials, France will undertake to continue the
analysis of the EU's strategic dependencies with the aim of avoiding moving from one
dependency to another, notably on cobalt or lithium.
take advantage of the EUFP to convince its European partners of the importance of establishing
reciprocal environmental and health standards for agricultural and food products imported into
11
the EU.
The European Commission and some of the more liberal states, however, remain reserved. The
Biodiversity, circular economy, climate and pollution
support of several Member States will therefore be necessary to achieve this objective, as there
is a great deal of reluctance within the EU, but also and above all outside of it.
Barbara POMPILI, French minister for Ecological Transition, stated that she wanted to "move
Europe forward" by defining European and legally binding objectives in favour of the restoration
of biodiversity and the fight against deforestation. In this sense, France will defend the
9
implementation of a European instrument to fight against imported deforestation, which will aim
Redefining the European production model to come out to ban products that contribute to deforestation (soy, palm oil, wood, cocoa or coffee) within the
of the crisis sustainably EU.
Finally, as the European authorisation for glyphosate expires in December 2022, it will be the
In March, a European summit will be held to redefine the production model to combat mass
subject of particularly complex discussions within the Council. As France is in favour of an
unemployment by creating jobs through support for sectors such as hydrogen, batteries, space,
accelerated phase-out of pesticides in Europe, it will have to convince the partners who were
semi-conductors and defence. The ambition is also to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy
reluctant to ban it in 2017.
by limiting dependence on certain products which were previously imported. This support for
industries will be provided through the implementation of European investment plans. A come
back to common budgetary rules will be necessary, but they must not limit the investments of
Member States.
The creation of new resources specific to the Union will therefore be encouraged in order to
finance these plans, for example with the tax on digital giants (GAFAM) or the carbon
adjustment mechanism at the borders.
13
12 Digital sovereignty: confronting the giants by creating
a digital Europe
Political calendar for the
France wants to organise a digital sovereignty summit in February in Paris. The ambition is to
stand up to the digital giants, led by GAFAM. Support for innovation will be one of the priorities,
with the establishment of European funds for start-ups and the development of an agenda
next six months
which purpose is attracting talent.
This digital Europe will also be enabled by the extension of the digital regulation, notably with 01 | JANUARY 03 | MarCH
the Digital Market Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DMA and the DSA aim to • Launch of the German G7 Presidency • 10-11 March: Summit of Heads of State
limit the weight of the digital giants in the European digital space by controlling the content of
• 6 and 7 January: Reception of the and Government in Brussels
platforms. France will make these two texts a priority. College of European Commissioners in • 23 March: Tripartite Social Summit
Paris
• 24-25 March: European Council
• 19 January: Emmanuel Macron's • Exact date to be confirmed (March
13 EUROPOL: support for the revision of EUROPOL's mandate
speech to the European Parliament
and presentation of the priorities of
the French Presidency
• 27 January: Conference on Brexit and
2022): 12th WTO Ministerial
Conference
France will support the Commission's proposal for a regulation on the revision of the customs formalities in Paris
agency's mandate, which includes a strengthening of cooperation with the private sector on
the exchange of personal data as well as a strengthening of relations with the European
Prosecutor's Office.
04 | APril
02 | FEBRUARY • 10 April: First round of French presidential
elections
• 24 April: Second round of French
• 1 February: Conference on sustainable
14 Citizen participation urban development in Paris
• 3-4 February: Ministerial summit on
aviation in Toulouse
presidential elections
• 7 February: Conference on ecological
The Government has expressed its willingness to include citizens in this Presidency with the
participation of citizens' panels that will present proposals to feed the European agenda. transition and strategic autonomy
• 11 February: Ocean Summit in Brest
05 | MaY
• 13-14 February: Trade Ministerial • Closure of the Conference on the Future
of Europe
15
Conference in Marseille
Health • 17-18 February: European Union and
African Union Leaders' Summit in
France will defend an acceleration of research in favour of biotherapies, digital health and
emerging diseases.
Brussels
• 28 February: Conference on the
circular economy in Brussels
06 | JuNE
• 2 June: Transport Council
• 3 June: Telecoms Council
• 27 June: Energy Council
• 28 June: Environment Council
• 28-29 June: European Transport Network
Days in Lyon
15
« Nous aurons ces grands États-Unis d'Europe, qui couronneront le vieux
monde comme les États-Unis d'Amérique couronnent le nouveau » (We
shall have these great United States of Europe, which will crown the old
world as the United States of America crowns the new), is what Victor
Hugo called for at the 1849 peace congress. History did not immediately
prove him right, but the idea of a united Europe that would put an end to
conflict was gaining ground among the French intellectual elites. After two
world wars, millions of deaths and a Europe in ruins, the European
countries realised that they had to unite to guarantee their place in the
world.
Robert
Schuman
France will be a key player in bringing the peoples of Europe together,
which began on the economic front, thanks to figures such as Robert
Schuman (French Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Jean Monnet (General
Commissioner for Planning) who were convinced of the need to unite the
nations of the continent within a single organisation. The European Coal
and Steel Community and then the European Economic Community with
the 1957 Treaty of Rome marked the beginning of a new era of
cooperation between the main European powers.
Charles
de Gaulle
Despite this pioneering role, France has always had an ambivalent
position towards this European construction. A founding member who
was sometimes rebellious, Charles de Gaulle did not hesitate to use the
WËLÇØMË
empty chair policy to make France's voice heard. However, France
remained the driving force behind an increasingly integrated EEC, notably
with the entry of the United Kingdom in 1973 and the establishment of the
European Monetary System (EMS) in 1979, at the initiative of President
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and his German counterpart Helmut Schmidt.
Jacques
Delors
TØ Fråñçë
Subsequently, it was another Frenchman, Jacques Delors, who was to be the architect of the
European Union as we know it today when he headed the Commission from 1985 to 1995.
Under his presidency, the Single European Act, the euro and the Maastricht Treaty were
successfully implemented. All of these achievements were not the result of a random calendar
of reforms, but rather of France's assertive commitment to greater European integration,
embodied by Jacques Delors, at a time when the European project was floundering (slowed
enlargement, criticism of its operating, the United Kingdom's blockage of the institutions,
etc.). However, in 2005 the French people said no to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for
Europe (TECE), despite the fact that it had been set in motion by France.
Last time France held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union was in 2008, a role
that the country will occupy again 14 years later with ambitions that symbolise the role of
driving force that France likes to embody.
17
the sublime landscapes The ideal palace
of postman
Cheval
In the Drôme, the postman
Ferdinand Cheval built a palace
over a period of 33 years with the
stones he collected during his
tours.
The
Lascaux
cave
Decorated with paintings and
The Gorges engravings dating back 19,000
years, the Lascaux cave was
discovered in 1940 in the
du Verdon
Dordogne
In the south of France, carved out
by a river, this canyon stretches
for over 100 km: it is the largest
one in Europe.
The Château
d'Ussé
In Indre-et-Loire, Charles Perrault
is said to have been inspired by
the Château d'Ussé to write one
of his most famous tales:
Sleeping Beauty.
19Unusual The old
times
The French army is the only
one in Europe that still has
carrier pigeons in its ranks
France French pride
France holds the record for the
number of Nobel Prize winners
in literature
One burger
please!
France is the most profitable
country for McDonald's after the
United States
Big
responsibility
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
In France, the President of the The French invented the cinema, the stethoscope,
Republic can, under certain the tin can, the guillotine, mayonnaise, the pencil,
conditions, authorise you to the automatic baguette dispenser and the first
marry a dead person autonomous artificial heart.
French words to use in society
Traffic Bonjour Hello
regulations
half the roundabouts in the world
Comment allez-vous? How are you doing?
Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English?
Pouvez-vous m’indiquer la Tour Eiffel ? Can you point me to the Eiffel Tower ?
are located in France and there are
absolutely no STOP signs in Paris Je souhaiterais commander un croissant I’d like to order a croissant
21The recipe for
Bordeaux Canelés
The
final
For 32 canelés
• 1 liter of milk
• 1 pinch of salt
• 6 egg yolks + 2 whole eggs (feel free to use the remaining whites to
make meringues!)
• 1 tsp. vanilla powder or vanilla extract
• 10cl. rum
word
The French ambitions within the framework of the EUFP are in line with those set out by
Emmanuel MACRON in his speech at the Sorbonne on 26 September 2017: the future of
• 300g. plain flour
the EU lies in the rebuilding of a sovereign, united and democratic Europe. In this
• 500g. sugar
perspective, the French Presidency is placed under the triptych "Recovery, power,
• 60g. butter
belonging".
• Moulds for canelés
The EU Presidency is an opportunity for France to shape a new European model to establish
1. Boil the milk with the vanilla and butter, then leave to cool a little
itself as a power in its own right. To this end, Emmanuel Macron will initiate major advances
2. Add the salt to the eggs and beat them
in the following major areas: the definition of a European strategic sovereignty, the
3. Mix the sugar and flour together
strengthening of the management of the Schengen area, the protection of the values of the
4. Add the sugar and flour thus mixed with the milk and rum to the
rule of law, the emergence of a pioneering Europe in the field of climate and digital
beaten eggs
technology.
5. Leave the mixture to rest overnight in the fridge
6. Preheat the oven to 270°C
Through this six-month presidency, France intends to fulfil the wishes of the grandfather of
7. Pour the cooled and stirred mixture into the moulds
European construction, Victor Hugo, by creating a continent capable of competing with the
8. Bake in the oven at 180/200°C (fan assisted) for 1 hour.
greatest powers.
9. Enjoy!
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