Aline Robert for EURACTIV.fr in Paris
Hollande brings Europe back to top of France’s priority list
European issues occupied a great deal of François Hollande’s long-awaited speech to the press yesterday (14 January), with the restart of the EU's Franco-German engine and strengthened fiscal and social convergence in the eurozone at the centre of the French president's reform agenda. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Defiance against the EU reaches record levels in France: Poll
Trust in national and European institutions has hit a record-low in France, according to a recent poll, leading to a feeling of “gloom” among a growing number of citizens, and perhaps even a rise in support for the reinstatement of the death penalty, EURACTIV France reports.
French senators strongly attack EU-US trade deal
During a debate in the French Senate, all political parties harshly criticised the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), but the French government defended the potential deal, EURACTIV France reports.
French opposition leader U-turns, supports Barnier in Commission bid
The leader of the French opposition has for the first time publicly claimed his support for the current EU internal market commissioner, Michel Barnier, to lead the European centre-right at the next EU elections. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Social issues divide France and Germany on agriculture
The German Minister of Agriculture paid a visit to his French counterpart in Paris yesterday (7 January) in a show of unity between the two sides. But divisions remain deep on social dumping, an issue that is expected to become hotter in France as the EU elections approach. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Paris wants to remove Bermuda and Jersey from tax haven list
France has decided to remove Jersey and Bermuda from its tax haven blacklist as they have been cooperative in sharing fiscal information. EURACTIV France reports.
Paris ponders betting on Barnier for top EU job
Germany and France have already sketched out the future division of jobs in the EU institution, but Germany appears to be at an advantage. EURACTIV France reports.
MEPs question Le Pen’s legitimacy on posted workers
The French far-right has called for an abolition of the posted workers directive, but other French MEPs question the move saying Front National leader Marine Le Pen never tabled a single amendment on the matter during the parliamentary debates. EURACTIV France reports.
Cereal producers are the big losers of the CAP ‘à la française’
French cereal producers claim the reformed CAP will create competition distortions in Europe, especially with German farmers, who will receive more subsidies. However, they should be able to secure compensation with a plan to raise the share of biodiesel to 7% of the total content of transport fuels sold on the continent. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Paris pushes EU-wide minimum wage in crusade against social dumping
The newly agreed minimum wage in Germany may not be implemented before 2017. Yet it is crucial for limiting social dumping, according to the French government, which announced a new offensive against low-cost workers ahead of next year's European Parliament elections.
France dragging its feet on EU tax-evasion fight
France has been a vocal supporter of EU attempts to fight tax evasion but is dragging its feet when it comes to transposing a crucial EU fiscal directive. EURACTIV.fr reports.
French website to collect all scientific data on CO2 emissions
A one-stop scientific website bringing together worldwide relevant data on climate change was launched in France last week (20 November), with the hope of contributing to the fight against global warming.
France says EU-Russia-Ukraine relations are no ‘zero sum game’
EU neighbourhood policy should not become a zero sum game in which the EU and Russia play tug-of-war over the former Soviet states, French officials say, expressing hope for the upcoming Eastern partnership summit. They stopped short of advocating the signature of the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. EURACTIV France reports.
French EU minister seeks solutions to fight social dumping
In an interview with EURACTIV.fr, the French Minister in charge of European affairs, Thierry Repentin, expressed his worries of a surge by far-right in next year's EU elections. He calls for better regulation of posted workers and a general minimum wage across the EU.
French centrists band together to defend ‘European ideal’
France's two main centrist parties, the UDI and the MoDem, announced a new alliance on Tuesday (5 November), with an eye on next year's European elections.
Commission pledges €5 billion aid for Sahel
In the wake of the brutal murder of two French journalists in Northern Mali, the European Commission, UN and World Bank pledged on Monday (4 November) to increase its financial assistance for the Sahel.
Economic crisis not the main cause of the EU’s CO2 drop, researchers say
Contrary to widespread belief, including at the European Commission, the massive uptake of renewable energies since 2005 has had a greater impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions than the economic slowdown.
New technologies can help humanitarian aid but can’t replace it
A new report by the Red Cross shows how mobile phones and an internet connection have changed the delivery of humanitarian aid. EURACTIV France reports.
French bid to boost aid by taxing finance stirs hornets nest
The French National Assembly's finance committee has green-lighted an amendment to the country's draft 2014 budget law, significantly increasing the amount of aid funds that can be generated from the upcoming financial transactions tax (FTT), EURACTIV.fr reports.
Paris and Brussels take first steps to coordinate budget
France has tried to find a common approach with the European Commission on budgetary issues at a meeting with several EU and national officials earlier this week in Paris, in preparation for next year's budget.
France to push common ‘digital tax’ at EU level
French plans for a 'Google tax' on all digital companies would take the form of a minimum levy calculated on a common base across all EU countries. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Barroso met with boos and jeers on Lampedusa tour
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s trip to the Italian island of Lampedusa began with boos and shouts of "shame" and "murderers" from some of the residents, TV footage has shown. In the meantime, lawmakers prepared to re-examine the EU’s border surveillance systems. EURACTIV France reports.
French parliamentarians launch ‘circular economy club’
More and more French lawmakers are signing up to a parliamentary 'circular economy club' but the role of the cross-party initiative is causing considerable debate. EURACTIV.fr reports.