Germany wants to help France to make Europe “more sovereign”

While Paris presides from 1 January the Council of the European Union, the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, provides France for its support.

Le Monde

The chief of German diplomacy provided France on Friday, France of its full support for its rotating presidency of the European Union (EU). “Our French friends can count on our first on the last day to ask the good milestones in the EU: for a sustainable economic recovery, in the fight against the climate crisis, in the digitization and for a more sovereign Europe in The world, “said Annalena Baerbock at the France-Press agency (AFP).

As of 1 January, France, succeeding Slovenia, presides for six months the Council of the European Union which represents the interests of the 27 Member States against the Commission and the Commission. European Parliament.

For Ms. Baerbock, the French Presidency is “an important chance that we want to entertain together to strengthen Europe and make it suitable for the challenges of tomorrow”. Germany and France, “as the closest to the heart of Europe, bear a special responsibility for a united European Union, capable of acting and facing the future,” she has Added.

Berlin will host the G7

The French Presidency of the EU Council coincides with the G7 German Presidency which also begins on the 1 January. Berlin will host from June 26 to 28 in Bavaria a summit of G7 leaders.

The new Social Democrat, Olaf Scholz, has since early December at the head of a pro-European government, which also includes ecologists and the Liberals.

These three parties have already stressed want to “increase the strategic sovereignty of the European Union”, at the time the EU is abused on the international scene by the rivalries between great powers such as the United States, Russia and China.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, set himself the goal of this European Presidency to render “powerful Europe in the world”.

The future French Presidency put forward three priorities – minimum wages throughout the EU, the regulation of digital giants and a carbon at borders – on which it can hope for results.

/Media reports.