In the aftermath of the European elections, on Monday 27 May, several European Trade Ministers, meeting in Council in Brussels, wanted to draw the first lessons from the election: European citizens are calling for greater integration of the climate dimension - and for better protection from the negative aspects of globalisation.
For the French Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, "in view of the results and the votes that have been expressed, we have seen a desire on the part of Europeans to be protected; a desire that the climate dimension be fully taken into account", he said on his arrival in the Council. He thus promised that France would continue to "push very aggressively" to adapt European trade policy. "There is now a real urgency to rethink this trade policy", said Mr Lemoyne.
Ann Linde, Swedish Minister for European Affairs and Trade, has a fairly harmonious view. A member of the Social Democratic Party and a leader in the elections, Ms Linde said before the meeting that her party had promised, in its campaign, "that from now on all deep and profound trade agreements , the partner has to ratify the Paris agreement". "That is a new position on our part", she said.
For the Swedish minister, it is also a question of working to move forward with trade liberalisation, including with the "big countries", on all "climate-smart goods and on goods that are good for climate e.g. bioethanol and all type of bicycles".
On the French side, the approach differs: Rather, Paris wishes to focus on creating fair market access conditions - the famous "level-playing field" - by ensuring that environmental values and standards are respected. "We must no longer be naive, we must really fight for a level playing field in international trade", Mr Lemoyne said.
"In terms of method, it is transparency, it is accountability for this trade policy and it is also about ensuring that we can have a trade policy that effectively protects our planet, but also our jobs, our industries and our sectors", he concluded. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)