About: Emmanuel Macron
Macron prepares counter-offensive for Brussels
French President Emmanuel Macron will only choose the new French candidate for the European Commission after an EU summit on 17-18 October, where he intends to secure political support from the European Parliament. EURACTIV France reports.
France halts EU enlargement
France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia on Tuesday (15 October), despite the promise made by the EU to Skopje that its historic name deal with Greece, the Prespa agreement, would earn it a ticket to EU membership negotiations.
Ukraine sees hope for ‘last chance’ peace summit in mid-November
The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany could hold a summit in Paris in mid-November if Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine can maintain a ceasefire, Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Monday (14 October), warning of a “last chance” for Moscow.
Macron plays appeasement card after Goulard’s rejection
After an initial outburst, French President Emmanuel Macron sought to ease tensions on Sunday (13 October) following the rejection last week of his protégée Sylvie Goulard as France's candidate for the European Commission. EURACTIV France reports.
Macron, Merkel call for end to Turkish invasion in Syria
The leaders of France and Germany called Sunday (13 October) for an end to Turkey's offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, warning of dire humanitarian consequences and a boost for the Islamic State group.
Why the European Parliament rejected Sylvie Goulard
The parliamentary committees rejected the candidacy of France's Sylvie Goulard for the Commissioner's post, officially on ethical grounds. However, her refusal is also a sign that German conservatives are finding it difficult to trust French President Emmanuel Macron. EURACTIV France reports.
EU Socialists could save Sylvie Goulard from long-winded saga
France’s European Commissioner-designate, Sylvie Goulard, will have to undergo another hearing on Thursday (10 October). Although the Greens and conservatives do not trust the French candidate, the last-minute support from the S&D group might save her after this tumultuous week. EURACTIV France reports.
EU says Britain needs new plan as Brexit clock runs out
European officials warned Monday (6 October) that Britain's latest Brexit proposal cannot serve as a basis for a breakthrough before next week's Brussels summit.
EU divisions over Russia mount as France, Germany seek peace in Ukraine
French and German attempts to end the conflict in east Ukraine risk increasing tensions that were already rising in the European Union over how to handle Russia and which could complicate peace efforts.
EU Commission hopeful of Russia-Ukraine thaw as many in Kyiv denounce ‘capitulation’
The European Commission commended on Thursday (3 October) a recent diplomatic meeting in the Belarus capital Minsk, which gives hope for an international summit to stop the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. But many in Ukraine see the development as “capitulation”.
After Saudi attacks, Russia makes its regional presence felt
In the two weeks since attacks blamed on missiles or drones shut down half of Saudi Arabia’s oil output, the country that has arguably moved most deftly to position itself for any upside is Russia.
France offers a conference on Sudan’s debt if US lifts sanctions
France will host a conference with Sudan's international creditors to help Khartoum address debt issues as soon as the United States removes the country from its state-sponsored terrorism list, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday (30 September).
World leaders bid farewell to Jacques Chirac
World leaders, past and present, stood in silence in Paris on Monday (30 September) at a funeral service for Jacques Chirac, the French leader remembered at home for his folksy charisma and abroad for opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Trump slammed EU over lack of support for Ukraine, Zelenskiy agreed ‘1000%’
In a July telephone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Donald Trump attacked European countries for failing to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, a transcript showed Wednesday (25 September).
Georgieva to be the first IMF chief from an emerging economy
Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday (25 September) as managing director of the International Monetary Fund, which would make her the first person from an emerging economy to head the global lender.
UN summit day #3 : SDGs in the spotlight
Over this special series on the UN climate action summit (23 September) and SDGs summit (24-25 September), EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on in New York and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: A radical change of the food system, climate adaptation, dozing commerce secretary and World Heritage.
Macron’s coalition of European militaries grows in force
As Norway and Sweden recently joined the French-led European Intervention Initiative (EI2) and the military coalition's defence ministers accepted Italy's participation request, Emmanuel Macron's European defence dream is seeing a silent but steady advance.
Macron and Conte call for overhaul of EU migrant policy
The European Union must introduce a new, automatic system of taking in migrants saved from the Mediterranean, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday (18 September) as as they sought to patch up bruised bilateral relations.
Table Brexit plans by September 30 or talks are ‘over’, Johnson warned
Boris Johnson has been given until September 30 to submit an alternative to the Irish border backstop in writing to Brussels, or the Brexit talks are "over", the leaders of France and Finland stated on Wednesday (18 September).
France’s Goulard gets double internal market and defence industry post
Defending Europe's industrial sovereignty and building a defence and space industry. Ursula von der Leyen's newly-designated European Commission is innovating by adopting French President Emmanuel Macron's demands itself. EURACTIV France reports.
Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners in first sign of thawing relations
Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners on Saturday (7 September) in a carefully-negotiated rapprochement that brought Western praise and could thaw a freeze in relations since Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region in 2014.
World’s sixty largest meat, dairy and fish farms ranked in new sustainability index
A group of concerned investors has examined the sustainability of the world's largest fattening farms and dairy factories that supply the global food industry. And the results aren't mouth-watering, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Fact check: Has Europe surrendered its south to China?
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, Europe has made the mistake of systematically handing key European infrastructures in southern Europe to the Chinese. EURACTIV has done a fact-check.