French President Macron presents top priorities for French EU Presidency

The topic of migration will be a key priority for France during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2022. This was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last Thursday evening (9 December) at a press conference in Paris. "The right to asylum is a credit to our continent, but it is precisely in order to prevent this right from being abused that we must be able to guard our borders", he stated at the press conference. For this purpose, France wants to take the initiative to reform the Schengen zone.

In the process of reforming the Schengen zone, France wants to improve the political control of the internal and external borders of the European Union. Furthermore, France wants to establish a mechanism to prevent and solve emergency situations at the external borders. For this purpose, it wants the agency Frontex to be strengthened.

In addition to the theme of migration, Macron presented some other priorities for the French Presidency. For example, France intends to realise significant steps in the further integration of the European defence policy. In recent months, the European Union increasingly discussed the creation of a joint European military force. Other priorities for France are strengthening the bond between citizens and the EU and successfully concluding the Conference on the Future of Europe discussions.

Macron's ambitions for the EU during the French Presidency overlaps with the upcoming presidential election campaign in France. In April, France will go to the polls to elect a new president during the French EU Presidency. Macron is again running as a candidate.
 

source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: French President Emmanuel Macron speaking at a press conference on 9 December 2021. (Picture courtesy of Reuters)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Russia agrees to withdraw border guards from the Armenian-Iranian border

Russia agrees to withdraw border guards from the Armenian-Iranian border

On Tuesday (8 October), Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed at the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to withdraw Russian border guards from the Armenian-Iranian frontier as of January 2025 and replace them with Armenian border guards. In addition, the Turkish border will be guarded by both Russian and Armenian guards.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Russia agrees to withdraw border guards from the Armenian-Iranian border

Russia agrees to withdraw border guards from the Armenian-Iranian border

On Tuesday (8 October), Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed at the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to withdraw Russian border guards from the Armenian-Iranian frontier as of January 2025 and replace them with Armenian border guards. In addition, the Turkish border will be guarded by both Russian and Armenian guards.