The co-chair of The Left in the European Parliament, Manon Aubry, argued for using the “contradictions” between French and European law, in other words questioning the primacy of European law, in order to apply the programme of rupture carried by La France insoumise, during the summer days of La France insoumise on Friday 27 August.
For the MEP, the application of their programme could expose France, if this party were to govern it after the 2022 presidential elections, to possible sanctions for—for example—not respecting the 3% budget deficit rule.
France would not be disadvantaged because of this and could argue the “contradictions” between French and European law. Germany is already doing this, notably through the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, by questioning the EU’s monetary policy. Following this model, it would be possible to give precedence to France’s constitutional identity, she added.
For the MEP, it is necessary to go beyond the “false debates” of pro-EU versus anti-EU and to approach the European question in a “pragmatic” way and identify the potential blocking points to apply her party’s political programme.
For Ms Aubry, there are six potential blockages with the Union: – the plan to establish interdependent protectionism that runs counter to free trade agreements; – the creation of public industrial clusters in contrast to the competition rules; – investing in the ecological and social transition, which could be opposed to the golden rule of the 3% deficit; – re-establishing the welfare state “despite the neo-liberal injunctions of the Commission”, as embodied in the budgetary process of the ‘European Semester’; – combatting tax evasion “despite the impunity of tax havens within it”; – protecting social rights against the social dumping introduced by the directive on posting of workers.
In her view, there are many strategies for dealing with the European institutions. France can use its veto power on free trade agreements, conduct an empty chair policy or block the Multiannual Financial Framework, disobey treaties or introduce opt-outs on certain legislation or provisions of the European treaties. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)