French Prime Minister Michel Barnier set out a policy line for his government that reflects France’s traditional positions on European issues in his general policy speech to the French Parliament on Tuesday 1 October.
“Let’s take care of Europe, it’s necessary”, he declared, believing that France must continue to “play a major role in helping to change Europe”. He spoke of the importance of “talking to everyone, without arrogance” so that the Union can build its industrial sovereignty by fighting unfair competition, speed up the climate transition and invest in the digital, space and defence sectors.
Deciding to borrow more than €700 billion at European level to revive the economy affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan, was “no mean feat”, said the former European Commissioner.
With France due to present its draft budget plan for 2025 (see EUROPE 13491/20), Mr Barnier confirmed that the French deficit would exceed 6% of GDP in 2024. They will have to “regain budgetary room for manoeuvre” given that public spending represents “57% of national wealth”, he said.
Wishing to give France’s European partners a pledge of seriousness, the French Prime Minister has set a target of reducing the public deficit to 5% of GDP by 2025, with a view to bringing it below 3% of GDP by 2029. According to him, two-thirds of the budgetary effort will come from spending cuts. The government will ask “large companies” to make a “targeted”, temporary effort, but without jeopardising their competitiveness, as well as “the wealthiest French people”, added Mr Barnier. And the fight against “tax and social security fraud” will be stepped up.
Migration. Expected to discuss the management of migratory flows, Mr Barnier advocated rigorous application of the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’. He called for the European agency Frontex to be given more resources to better control the EU’s external borders. As for French border controls, they will be maintained “for as long as necessary”, as Germany is doing, said the former EU Brexit negotiator.
On the international stage, Mr Barnier said that France would continue to “speak with a unique voice in the world” and “take initiatives” to promote peace and security. “France will remain at the side of the Ukrainian people”, who are fighting to defend their freedom, territorial integrity and the values of the EU.
Referring to the victims of Hamas and demanding the release of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza, including several French nationals, he also had a thought for “all the Palestinian civilian victims”. “The violence has gone on far too long”, he said, convinced that “the key to peace” remained the two-state solution - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in security. And he advocated mobilising France, its European partners and the United States to bring hostilities in Lebanon to an end. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)