Britain - The Party Is Over: UK will have to give up all EU perks after Brexit, François Hollande warns - by Angelique Chrisafis

The French president, François Hollande, has warned that Britain cannot hang on to the advantages of EU membership after it leaves, saying his message to Britain is: “That’s not possible; the UK will become an outsider to the European Union.”

In an interview with the Guardian and five other European newspapers as he prepares to host a summit in Versailles to discuss the future of the European Union after Britain’s departure, Hollande said he regretted Britain’s decision to leave but stressed France’s long-held position that the UK could not exit the EU while holding on to any of the perks of membership.

The UK, which is expected to trigger the article 50 process to leave the EU within weeks, has been optimistic about finding trade agreements with the EU and an advantageous compromise on financial services.

But Hollande said the government would not be able to find an alternative in relations with the US under Donald Trump. “The UK’s problem is this: it had thought that in leaving Europe it would tie up a strategic partnership with the US. But it now happens that the US is closing itself off from the world. The UK has made a bad choice at a bad moment. I regret that.”

Hollande is to host a mini-summit with the leaders of Germany, Spain and Italy in Versailles on Monday night to prepare the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Those Rome celebrations – to take place without the UK on 25 March – will include a declaration on the future of the EU post-Brexit. Several options for the shape of the future of the bloc have been put on the table. Hollande said the option of having a “multi-speed” Europe, with different countries integrating at different levels, had been resisted for a long time but was now becoming a possibility. If not, he warned, Europe could break up.

France will push for a more integrated European defence policy, something that Britain had strongly opposed in recent years. But Hollande said the door would be open for the UK – which has very close bilateral military ties to France – to have a clear link to any integrated European defence project. “In my mind, the UK, even outside the EU, should be associated with that,” he said

Read more: UK will have to give up all EU perks after Brexit, François Hollande warns | Politics | The Guardian

France's President Hollande - "the party" is over - Won't Seek Re-Election

Tonight, December 1, President François Hollande addressed the nation asserting that he would not seek re-election.

In a stunning move, the deeply unpopular president will become the first French president since the second world war not to seek a second term in office.

His current approval rating have hovered between single digits and the mid teens.

Read more: France's President Hollande Won't Seek Re-Election

France: Hollande faces fresh controversy over 'toothless' remark

The French president's former girlfriend, Valerie Trierweiler, has renewed her claim he used "toothless" as a nickname for the poor.

Francois Hollande was accused of using the term by Ms Trierweiler after their acrimonious split in 2014.

In a new book, Mr Hollande said he never used the term in a derogatory way and called her story "a betrayal".

In response, Ms Trierweiler posted what appears to be a 2005 text message from the president using the term.

The allegation is potentially damaging to the Socialist Party president as he considers whether to stand again in next year's presidential election. 

Read more - France: Hollande faces fresh controversy over 'toothless' remark - BBC News

USA -NSA SPYING: Obama pledges to end ′unacceptable′ tactics after France spying row - LOL

US President Barack Obama spoke with his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, on Wednesday after reports emerged that his government spied on French leaders, a statement from the French president's office said.

"President Obama reiterated unequivocally his firm commitment … to end the practices that may have happened in the past, and that are unacceptable among allies," the statement said.

The two presidents discussed "the principles that should govern relations between allies in the domain of intelligence."

French intelligence officials will visit Washington some time soon to discuss the matter, the statement added.
Obama made a similar pledge to Germany in 2013 after former CIA contractor Edward Snowden leaked confidential information about the extent of the US National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance. The documents showed that the NSA has tapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone.

Note  EU-Digest: "end the practices that may have happened in the past, and that are unacceptable among allies" LOL


Read more: Obama pledges to end ′unacceptable′ tactics after France spying row | News | DW.COM | 24.06.2015

Catholic Church: Vatican should understand they only exist as a 'theocracy' in Europe by the grace of the EU - by RM

French Predident Hollande with Laurent Stefanini

France stated on Wednesday March 15 it was standing by its choice to send a gay diplomat to the Vatican, despite three months of silence from the Holy See over the appointment. "France has chosen its ambassador to the Vatican.

The choice was for Laurent Stefanini and that remains the French proposal," government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said. "Negotiations are underway. Every ambassador must be approved when they are nominated ... we are awaiting the response from the Vatican," Le Foll added.

The lengthy delay in approving the candidate is seen as unusual and could indicate a rejection.

While the Vatican usually declares it has accepted a candidate around a month after an appointment is made, it makes no public statements at all if the answer is no.

The French cabinet approved the appointment of the 55-year-old Stefanini already on January 5 but has not yet received a reply.

The Vatican is the smallest "state" in the world with a population of 842 and has a landmass of only 110 acres.

 In 2007, the Vatican was also silent for months when the last gay ambassador was appointed. Eventually, France was forced to select another ambassador.

All this in spite of Pope Francis' PR comments regarding the church accepting LGBT individuals, he has publicly spoken out against same-sex marriage and adoption.

In this modern day and age - and basically already since Martin Luther and John Calvin broke the iron grip of the Catholic church on Europe with the reformation, the whole concept of the Vatican as a state is questionable to say the least.

Although the 1984 concordat states that the Catholic religion is no longer the sole religion of Italy, in 2007 the Church objected to the introduction of an omnibus religious freedom law which would “put the Catholic Church on the same level as religious sects” . This law has still not been passed in Italy and should be.

According to the EU's Copenhagen criteria which define what states are eligible to join the EU, a candidate state must be a free market democracy. Given that the Holy See is a theocracy it does not meet the criteria. Basically case closed - however as it is small, and surrounded by an EU state, it is closely linked to the EU. The Holy See has an open border with the EU and even intends to join the Schengen Information System.  It also uses the euro as its sole currency and has an agreement with the EU allowing them to mint their own coins.

The EU gave Italy authority to negotiate a deal with the Holy See in 2000, which allowed the Holy See to mint a maximum of €670,000. After a review of the arrangements, a new agreement came into force in 2010 which allowed the Holy See to mint €1 million a year (plus up to an additional €300,000 on special occasions).

With the above in mind, the Vatican should really start to comprehend that they exist as a "nation" only by the grace of the EU. They can not circumvent or disobey established EU Human Rights rules or impose their views on any member state, regardless of the fact they still seem to believe to qualify standing above established international laws. 

EU-Digest

France local elections: conservatives hold off National Front

France's centre-right UMP party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of local elections, partial results show.

Projections suggest that the far-right National Front - despite strong gains - came second with about 25% of the vote, behind the conservatives on 30%.

President Francois Hollande's governing Socialists came third with about 20%.

Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare.

The results mean the second round on 29 March will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many constituencies.

In the past, voters for rival parties have combined in the second round to keep the far right out.

Read more: BBC News - France local elections: conservatives hold off National Front

EURO - France’s Hollande upbeat as euro nears parity with dollar

French President Francois Hollande says the euro has reached a good level against the US dollar as the two currencies edge closer to parity.

"There will be a favourable effect on activity with a euro that is now at a good equilibrium," Hollande told reporters on Thursday, noting that when the euro was created it was also near parity with the dollar.

Earlier in the day, the single European currency briefly fell below $1.05 in Asian trading, its first such drop in 12 years, and analysts believe it could soon ease further.

The euro, which neared $1.40 last May, has been sliding as the European Central Bank (ECB) embarked on a 1.14 trillion euro stimulus programme designed to boost flagging growth across the 18-member bloc.

Read more: Business - France’s Hollande upbeat as euro nears parity with dollar - France 24

France: French government collapses after row over economic policy

France has been thrown into fresh crisis today after President Francois Hollande asked his prime minister to form a new government.

The president ordered Prime Minister Manuel Valls to form a new cabinet “consistent with the direction he has set for the country,” the presidency said in a statement.

It did not give any reasons, but the move comes after Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg spent his weekend bad-mouthing the country’s economic direction and ally Germany in a much-criticised show of insubordination.

The Local reports that Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls had been under pressure after Montebourg and Education Minister Benoit Hamon separately criticised the government’s obsession with reducing deficit instead of pursuing policies to encourage growth.

While Valls himself has not reacted, his entourage said yesterday that Montebourg had crossed a line. It is expected that the new government will be named tomorrow.

Read more: French government collapses after row over economic policy

EU Unity or Diversity - Cameron, Hollande argue over Europe's future

France and Great Britain work well together. In military matters, the cooperation between Paris and London runs smoothly. The two nuclear powers are in the same boat. After the EU election this also applies - at least theoretically - to another issue: in both countries right-wing populists gained the best results Europe-wide, putting both governments in dire straits.

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) with its charismatic leader Nigel Farage will send 24 representatives to the new EU Parliament. Prime Minister Cameron's ruling conservatives won only 19 seats.

In France, the situation is even more dramatic: the right-wing National Front of Marine Le Pen took 24 seats - eleven more than the ruling Socialists. London and Paris are now searching for political answers to these landslide victories, but the solutions couldn't be more different.

“We need change in Europe,“ said Cameron. For the conservatives change means: “Europe should concentrate on what matters, on growth and jobs. We need an approach that recognizes that Brussels has got too big, too bossy, too interfering.” Cameron's demand: Europe only where necessary. And that means, the prime minster indicates, much less EU than before.

Cameron needs allies and advocates implementing his program, preferably in the EU Commission. Even if Cameron is not saying it openly on this particular evening, he wants to prevent Jean-Claude Juncker, who now advocates even closer cooperation in Europe, from becoming president of the EU Commission.

“We need people in the leadership who will be working for a Europe which is open, competitive and flexible - and not about the past.”

Read more: Cameron, Hollande argue over Europe's future | Europe | DW.DE | 28.05.2014

France sees recovery struggling to gain momentum

France’s economy is set to grow by only 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2014, the central bank forecast today, hindered by faltering company morale. 

The outlook comes despite a pro-business push by the government seeking to tame unemployment and cut the deficit.

The Bank of France estimated that the euro zone’s second-biggest economy would also grow 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year, half the euro zone average according to a Reuters poll of economists. Germany is forecast to grow 0.7 per cent.

Economists polled by Reuters expect on average that the INSEE national statistics agency will report first quarter growth of 0.2 per cent for France when it publishes GDP data for the period on May 15th.

President Francois Hollande has made cutting unemployment, at 10.2 per cent, his priority, but has made little headway, driving his approval ratings to a record low of 18 per cent, according to an OpinionWay poll released yesterday.

Read more: France sees recovery struggling to gain momentum - Economic News | Ireland & World Economy Headlines |The Irish Times - Mon, May 12, 2014

France Elections: Black Sunday for France's Socialists as far-right breaks through - by Angus MacKinnon

France's ruling Socialist Party suffered humiliating losses Sunday in a local vote marked by breakthrough successes for the far-right National Front and the historic election of a first female mayor of Paris.

On a day dubbed "Black Sunday" by one Socialist lawmaker, the National Front (FN) won control of at least eight towns and was on track to claim 1,200 municipal council seats nationwide, its best ever showing at the grassroots level of French politics.

It was also a night to savour for France's main opposition, the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

The party of former president Nicolas Sarkozy performed strongly across the country, seizing control of a string of towns and cities, including some once considered bastions of the left.

In a rare consolation for President Francois Hollande's party, the Socialists held on to control of Paris, where Anne Hidalgo, 54, will become the first female mayor of the French capital after a victory that was far more comfortable than anyone had expected.

But Limoges, a town that had been run by the left for 102 years, fell to the UMP, as did Toulouse, the Champagne capital Reims and Saint Etienne, as well as dozens of other smaller urban centers.

Read more: Black Sunday for France's Socialists as far-right breaks through - Yahoo News

France - Turkey: President Hollande cautiously backs Turkey's EU bid

French President Francois Hollande has cautiously backed Turkey's aim to join the European Union despite its recent crackdown on police and judiciary and earlier French reservations about the idea.

But the trip, the first by a French head of state to Turkey in 22 years, was dramatic enough on its own with Hollande reviving a plan to submit Turkey's EU ambitions to a French referendum.

That pledge will likely draw the ire of Turkey, as it did back when former French president Jacques Chirac first floated it in 2005, before shelving it three years later.

Hollande steered clear of any mention of his private life while in Ankar, presenting himself as a statesman with a decisive policy on the EU ambitions held by mostly Muslim Turkey, with its population of 76 million.

"No need to stoke fears.  The French people will any case be consulted," he said during a news conference with Gul.

Noting that Turkey had resumed EU membership negotiations late last year following a three-year hiatus, Hollande added: "Negotiations do not entail membership. The issue of membership will be decided upon at a referendum."

Under EU rules, accession of a new member requires unanimous approval by the bloc's current 28 members.

European leaders criticised the AK Party leader in Brussels last week, saying democratic principles needed to be upheld.

Read more: Hollande cautiously backs Turkey's EU bid - Europe - Al Jazeera English

France - Korea: Park to seek futuristic economic cooperation in summit with France - by Chang Jae-soon

South Korean President Park Geun-hye was to meet with French President Francois Hollande on Monday for summit talks expected to focus on strengthening financial and high-tech cooperation as the two countries seek new engines to power future growth.

The summit is the highlight of Park's three-day visit to France, a global financial and technological power that officials say can be an ideal partner for her push to seek new growth engines for Asia's fourth-largest economy under her trademark "creative economy" drive.

The drive calls for blending information and communications technology with culture and other realms to create novel industries and more jobs. Park believes the existing paradigm of economic growth has reached its limit and that creative ideas should be thought up to develop new growth engines.

Read more: Park to seek futuristic economic cooperation in summit with France | GlobalPost

French sceptical as Hollande points to economic recovery - by Sam Ball

François Hollande’s claim in an interview on Sunday that France is on the verge of economic recovery has been met with a heavy dose of scepticism from the country’s press and the President's political rivals..

For a country that has just officially entered into a triple-dip recession, it was a claim that was always going to raise a few eyebrows. During an interview with French television on Sunday - the French national holiday of Bastille Day - President François Hollande announced to the country that, finally, “The economic recovery is here”.

As proof, he pointed to an increase in industrial production as well as a small uptick in consumption in recent months.

However, weighed against negative growth in the first quarter of the year and record high numbers of unemployed - 3.26 million at last count - the President’s remarks have been met with a mixture of scepticism and even ridicule from his political rivals and in the French press.

During his interview, Hollande talked about combating his nation's apparent love of pessimism with a message of hope and optimism. But it seems that the general feeling in France is that the President is simply in denial.

Read more: French sceptical as Hollande points to economic recovery - FRANCE - ECONOMY - FRANCE 24

France: Hollande calls for EU 'economic government'

Speaking at a news conference marking his first year in office, French President François Hollande called for an "economic government" for the eurozone that would have a president, its own budget and a coordinated tax system.

Read more: Hollande calls for EU 'economic government' - FRANCE - FRANCE 24

France - Morocco: Hollande hails Morocco’s path to democracy

Hassan II seafront mosque - photo EU-Digest

Morocco is taking “decisive steps” towards democracy, French President François Hollande said Thursday in a speech to the country’s parliament. Hollande also called for a solution to the long-running conflict over the Western Sahara.

After an early visit to Casablanca's vast Hassan II seafront mosque, Hollande headed to Rabat for a marathon day of meetings, notably with Islamist Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane.

Speaking in parliament, Hollande highlighted the "stability" of the north African country and the "tolerance" guaranteed in the new constitution, which he said "recognised the diverse character of Morocco's identity."

Read more: Hollande hails Morocco’s path to democracy - MOROCCO - FRANCE 24

France's Hollande rejects 'a la carte' attitude to EU

French President Francois Hollande has told the European Parliament there can be no "a la carte" attitude to the EU, as tough budget talks approach. 

He called for a "multi-faceted Europe which would be neither a two-speed Europe nor an a la carte Europe".

National interests, he said in Strasbourg, risked taking precedence over the interests of the EU.
His remarks were aimed at UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, reports.

Mr Hollande's Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, commented at the time: "We want the British to be able to bring all their positive characteristics to Europe... but you can't do Europe a la carte."

The French president's speech comes two days before a summit on the EU's seven-year budget, which is likely to be marked by sharp differences between the leaders.

Read more: BBC News - France's Hollande rejects 'a la carte' attitude to EU

France: Outlook bleak as Hollande hails 2013 'battle for jobs' - by Ben McPartland

French President François Hollande has hailed 2013 as the year of the "great battle for jobs". But figures released Thursday show a rise in the jobless rate for the nineteenth consecutive month – and the forecast is for worse to come.

France's faltering economy shed a further 30,000 jobs in November, according to new figures released Thursday, pushing the unemployment rate to its highest level in almost 15 years.

The alarming data, although expected, is another blow to the country’s Socialist government and its president, who called earlier in the day for a collective “mobilisation” to deal with the ongoing employment crisis.

With France’s unemployment rate crashing through the symbolic 10% mark this year, the president could offer no seasonal cheer when he made a surprise visit to Europe's largest wholesale market in Rungis, south of Paris.

“During this festive season I have to tell the French that it must be all hands on deck in the battle against unemployment,” said the president, who decided not to take any Christmas holidays following criticism in the French media when he took time off in August . “My goal is that unemployment, which has been rising for nearly two years now, begins to decline,” Hollande said, though admitting this may not happen until the end of 2013.

Read more: Outlook bleak as Hollande hails 2013 'battle for jobs' - FRANCE - FRANCE 24

France's president opens Elysee garden to public

Hundreds of Parisians and tourists lined up Sunday to get a rare chance to visit the gardens of France's presidential palace.

Visitors were taking advantage of a new policy inaugurated by President Francois Hollande to open the 18th-century Elysee Palace gardens to the public every last Sunday of the month. In the past, the palace and gardens were only open to the public once a year on France's Heritage Days weekend in September.

Access to the gardens is just off the Champs Elysee avenue via an ornate wrought-iron gate topped with gilt rooster, the French national symbol.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/10/28/2498714/frances-president-opens-elysee.html#storylink=cpy

Read more: PARIS - France's president opens Elysee garden to public - World - TheState.com

France's Hollande speeds launch of state investment bank

France will launch a public investment bank within days to help cash-strapped companies to obtain financing, President Francois Hollande said on Friday, bringing forward the date as his government speeds up efforts to fight a downturn.

The bank, originally due to be launched in January of next year, is designed to support small- and medium-sized firms which are struggling to obtain financing from private lenders amid super-tight credit conditions.

"A public investment bank will be created in the coming days," Hollande told journalists in north-eastern France. "There is no time to wait: we are facing too many emergencies."

France is also fast-tracking the launch of a scheme to create 150,000 state-sponsored jobs for youths, in a move to tackle rising unemployment.

The new body brings together several existing public lenders under the state bank Caisse des Depots, aiming to offer thousands of credit-hungry companies business advice as well as a single window for loans.
"Pulling together all these different institutions under a single roof is not only a good thing, it's an urgent move for France," said Frederic Bonnevay, an economist for think tank Institut Montaigne.

In July, Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg told Le Parisien daily that a public bank was necessary because private lenders were not "sufficiently interested" in the real economy, preferring to seek higher margins abroad.

Read more: France's Hollande speeds launch of state investment bank | Reuters