EU-DIGEST: France

Showing posts with label France. Show all posts

7/20/23

EU-France: Macron reshuffles his Cabinet after months of turmoil in his second term

After weeks of speculation that he might change prime minister, the 45-year-old head of state said on Monday that he was sticking with under-fire Elisabeth Borne.

Since his re-election last May, Macron has faced months of fierce street protests over a deeply unpopular pensions reform and was forced into crisis management again late last month when riots erupted nationwide.

Advisors and ministers had long argued over whether the centrist should carry out a major overhaul of the cabinet to signal a fresh start, but in the end the reshuffle was limited in scope.

7/12/23

EU - the EU needs more defence autonomy, even while the US remains an important ally - they can not be in control of EU defence policy or foreign affairs for that matter.

The Aukus deal shows the need for more military collaboration between EU states but the US remains an indispensable partner.-

On the same evening French president Emmanuel Macron found out that the US had secretly struck a defence deal with Australia that cut France out of a submarine contract, he announced a military triumph of his own. Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, leader of the terrorist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, had been killed “by French forces”. The coincidence was an awkward one for Macron. To him, the Aukus deal was clear vindication of the argument that France, and Europe, must build a defence alliance that is not dependent on a fickle US. Yet the assassination of a leading militant was a French military success that Macron well knew owed much to its superpower ally across the Atlantic.

Read more at: https://www.ft.com/content/f14c3e59-30bb-4686-8ba3-18ff860647e7

7/5/23

EU: French President Macron plagued by social unrest, considering temporary ban on Social Media

French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of banning access to certain social media features, in a meeting with local mayors in the cities that have seen violent protests.

Macron told about 300 local leaders that "we need to reflect on social media use among the youngest [and] on the prohibitions we must put in place," in a video seen by some French and international media.

"When things get out of hand, perhaps you have to put yourself in a position to regulate or cut them," Macron added.

7/2/23

Ukraine war: Framce supplies Ukraine with armoured vehicles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for the shipment of light combat tanks to Kyiv, though some Ukrainian military officials have challenged their practicality.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was filmed riding in a highly mobile AMX-10 RC infantry fighting vehicle.

However, a Ukrainian battalion commander strongly criticized the tanks, describing them to the French AFP news agency as "impractical" due to their "thin armor."

The commander told AFP at one instance, a crew of four were killed when a shell exploded near the vehicle, piercing the armor due to its thin quality.

6/13/23

France Russian Relations: France discovers major Russian media disinformation plot

France said it has found a large-scale Russian disinformation campaign involving Russia's embassies and cultural institutes. Fake news hostile to Ukraine were made to look like they were published by French mass media.

1/4/23

Ukraine war: France sending high speed light and super maneuverable tanks to Ukraine

France is to send AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine following a call between the countries' presidents.

"This is the first time that Western-made armored vehicles are being delivered in support of the Ukrainian army," a French official said.

The official did not provide any further details about the amount of vehicles to be sent or when they would be delivered.

AMX-10 is an armored reconnaissance vehicle with a high level of mobility, with a carrying capacity of four crew.

12/5/22

France: Macron gets critizised for sayng Russia needs quarantees to end the war

French President Emmanuel Macron's statement on Saturday that the West should consider how to address Russia's need for security guarantees to end the war in Ukraine has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, rejecting the option of making concessions to the Kremlin after nearly 10 months of the war.

In an interview with French TV station TF1 recorded during his state visit to the US last week, Macron said Europe needs to prepare its future security architecture.

10/25/22

EU: France-Germany tensions 'hamstring EU's capacity to act' by lisa Louis

A recent announcement that a Franco-German ministerial meeting is being pushed back to next January appears to have revealed a deepening rift between the two countries. The alliance between Germany and France is often described as "the engine" of the European Union and analysts say the current spat is undermining the EU's capacity to act.

8/28/22

Turkey hits back at Macron's 'unacceptable' criticism

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic slammed what he described as the French leader’s “extremely unfortunate” comments.

“It is unacceptable that… Macron, who has difficulties in confronting his colonial past in Africa, especially Algeria, tries to get rid of his colonial past by accusing other countries, including our country,” he said in a
statement.

7/27/22

France: Macron calls Russia a 'colonial power' during visit to ex-French colony

Macron poses with young women in traditional costumes as they celebrate the Abomey Treasures, during his visit to the French College in Benin, 27 July 2022.

- The French president vilified Russia as a "colonial imperial power" during a visit to Benin, which France ruled for more than 150 years.

Read more at: Macron calls Russia a 'colonial power' during visit to ex-French colony | Euronews

7/25/22

Global warming: France orders air-conditioned shops to close their doors - with fines if they leave them open

The French government is set to force all air-conditioned shops to close their doors and switch off illuminated advertising overnight, in a bid to cut energy use.

Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher says it's "absurd" that leaving doors open while the air conditioning is running can lead to 20% more energy consumption.

Businesses which break the ban, due to come into force in the next few days when Pannier-Runacher issues new decrees, will face a €750 fin

Note EU-Digest: Same should be done in other countries of Europe, and in America, where people are completely addicted to airconditioning. and In some areas even keep their car engine running with airconditioning full blast on, while they shop. We better all start taking global warming serious as the clock keeps ticking towards the final curtain,🇪🇺🇺🇸

Read more at France orders air-conditioned shops to close their doors - with fines if they leave them open | Euronews

7/18/22

EU Weather: Wildfires continue to rage in France and Spain

Thousands have been evacuated from their homes by authorities in France and Spain. More than 1,200 firefighters are deployed in Gironde, a prefecture in Bordeaux, France. Thousands of hectares have burned in Portugal. Two huge blazes have burned their way through pine forests for six days just south of the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France. The fires have forced the evacuation of some 14,000 people, including many who were on holiday in the area.

Firefighters in Spain were supported by the armed forces' emergency brigades in trying to extinguish more than 30 fires consuming forests across the country.

Wildfires continue to rage in France and Spain | News | DW | 18.07.2022

5/20/22

France: Can Macron renew himself? New term begins with change of French prime minister

Enter Elisabeth Borne, the 61-year old labour minister promoted to prime minister. How big a deal is the nomination of France's first female prime minister in 30 years? Cast from the same technocratic mould as Macron, originally a Socialist, she served as environment minister in a previous life. Does that make

All this begs the broader question of what France wants. Under Macron, it has already been through a transport strike, the Yellow Vest movement, Covid-19 and now the war in Ukraine. What do citizens expect from their leadership and their government in times that are more uncertain than ever?

Read more at: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20220518-can-macron-renew-himself-new-term-begins-with-change-of-prime-minister

5/1/22

France - Ukraine relations: Macron says France to 'intensify' military, humanitarian aid to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France would "intensify" its supply of military and humanitarian support following a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Read more at: Macron says France to 'intensify' military, humanitarian aid to Ukraine - The Local

4/26/22

France: Victorious Macron vows to unite France after fending off Le Pen threat

The pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron has vowed to unite a divided France after winning a second term as French president in a decisive victory against the far-right’s Marine Le Pen, who nonetheless won more than 13 million votes in a historic high for her anti-immigration party.

Macron became the first French leader to win re-election for 20 years, scoring 58.54% to Le Pen’s 41.46%.

Addressing a victory rally at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, where his supporters waved French and European flags, Macron vowed to respond “efficiently” to the “anger and disagreement” of voters who chose the far right.

Read more at: Victorious Macron vows to unite France after fending off Le Pen threat | French presidential election 2022 | The Guardian

4/21/22

France: French election: Macron and Le Pen clash in TV presidential debate - by Henri Astier & Paul Kirby

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has fallen behind centrist Emmanuel Macron in the opinion polls but millions of voters are still undecided.

It did not take long for the two-hour-45-minute clash to burst into life. The candidates confronted each other on the cost of living, Russia, climate change and immigration.

Around 15.6 million viewers watched the debate, in which Mr Macron accused his rival of being dependent on Russian power while Marine Le Pen called him a hypocrite on climate change.

Spiralling prices have dominated the campaign and immediately took centre stage in the debate.

Read more at: French election: Macron and Le Pen clash in TV presidential debate - BBC News

4/10/22

France: I want a France that is part of a strong Europe,' says Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron says he is the candidate for a "strong Europe" ahead of a presidential election run-off against Marine Le Pen.

Macron qualified ahead of his far-right rival for the second round of voting, due to take place on April 24.

"I want a France that is part of a strong Europe, that continues to forge alliances with the major democracies to defend itself," he said at his election night headquarters.

Note EU-Digest: President Emmanuel Macron won the first round of the French Presidemtial elections today, against radical right wing and pro-Putin, Marine Le Pen, who like former US President Donald Trump and British PM Boris Johnson, whom based on on their history, can not be trusted.

Read more at: 'I want a France that is part of a strong Europe,' says Emmanuel Macron | Euronews

4/6/22

France election: Macron targets Le Pen's 'indulgence' of Putin as hard right rival closes gap

The two leading candidates in Sunday's French presidential election will appear on TV on Wednesday night in a key moment in the campaign, as Marine Le Pen continues to close the gap on Emmanuel Macron according to the latest polling. IFOP's survey updated on Tuesday evening on first-round voting intentions shows Macron on 27%, down by 0.5%, while his rival from the hard-right gains one percentage point to reach 23%, four points behind.

Another poll on Tuesday night, by Kantar-Epoka, puts Le Pen (23%) just two points behind Macron (25%), a fall of four percentage points for the current president in two weeks.

Read more at: France election: Macron targets Le Pen's 'indulgence' of Putin as hard right rival closes gap | Euronews

2/13/22

Ukraine Crises: France's Macron calls for calm to resolve Ukraine crisis - by Michel Rose and Pavel Polityuk

French President Emmanuel Macron, the first leader of a major Western power to meet Vladimir Putin since Russia massed troops near Ukraine, said on Tuesday he believed steps can be taken to de-escalate the crisis and called on all sides to stay calm. Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Stephen Coates; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Simon Cameron-Moore You have reached your article limit

Note EU-Digest: France presently holds the six month Presidency of the EU and President Macron obviously not only speaks in his capacity of President of France but also in his capacity of his country's presidence role of the EU.

Read more at: France's Macron calls for calm to resolve Ukraine crisis | Reuters

2/2/22

Ukraine Crises: Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agree to new talks

Presidential advisers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany met for more than five hours Wednesday over the long-running Ukraine conflict, and reached no breakthrough, but promised to meet for new talks in two weeks in Berlin.

The French president’s office released a statement after the Paris talks saying the parties support “unconditional respect” for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine. T

The talks focused on the 2015 Minsk peace agreement aimed at ending the long-running conflict, and the statement didn’t address the current concerns about a Russian invasion.

Read more at Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agree to new talks

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