About: French Presidency
Assessing the French EU Presidency
"[French] President [Nicholas] Sarkozy has shown how important and useful for all it is to have a strong and stable leadership for the Union," argue the contributors to a European Policy Centre (EPC) commentary on the outcome of the outgoing French EU Presidency.The view from Brussels: EU summit successful
The French EU Presidency recorded victories regarding the future of the Lisbon Treaty and the economic recovery and climate change packages at last week's EU summit, argues Eberhard Rhein, a lecturer on economic policy at the Malta-based Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies, in a post on Blogactiv.
Praise for Sarkozy as EU presidency ends
MEPs and other leading European politicians offered their reviews of France's performance at the EU helm at the end of its six-month presidency, during which Nicolas Sarkozy oversaw European responses to a number of global crises and at last week's European summit secured an agreement on a key climate change package to curb emissions.
Sarkozy moves to enlist Eastern EU members on climate change
French President and EU presidency holder Nicolas Sarkozy will this weekend make a dramatic attempt to obtain the agreement of the bloc's Eastern countries on the bloc's climate change package, ahead of a crucial EU summit on 11-12 December, sources told EURACTIV.
‘EU trio’ concept gains weight amid Czech Presidency doubts
As apprehension mounts in Brussels over the incoming Czech Presidency, officials are playing down anxieties on the basis that the EU's work schedule increasingly relies upon agendas drawn up by 'trios of presidencies' including older, more experienced member states. EURACTIV Czech Republic contributed to this article from Prague.
Sarkozy accused of hijacking Czech EU Presidency
Weakened by electoral defeat over the weekend (24-25 October), the survivor Czech government came under attack from eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus, who accused France of planning to "siphon" the Czech EU Presidency in the first half of 2009.Analysing the October European Council
"While the 15-16 October European Council agreed on the financial rescue package, they displayed growing disunity over the energy and climate package," according to the European Policy Centre's (EPC) post-summit analysis.
EU contemplates ‘common market’ with Russia
French President and EU presidency holder Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday (21 October) unveiled a new cooperation strategy with Russia that would build stronger economic links between Europe and its largest Eastern European neighbour.Can France reclaim intellectual leadership of the EU?
"We need a firmer hand at the EU's helm," argues Sylvie Goulard, president of the European Movement in France, exploring whether France is capable of "reclaiming the intellectual leadership of the EU" in the autumn edition of Europe's World.
EU ‘requests’ global finance summit before year’s end
In line with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who yesterday called for a "new Bretton Woods", French President and current EU presidency holder Nicolas Sarkozy strongly appealed for a global summit to be held before the end of the year to reform the world financial system.
EU-Russia pact on hold as Georgia talks collapse
The EU summit today (16 October) postponed a decision to resume talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow until an EU-Russia summit in Nice, scheduled for 14 November.
Open-ended Georgia talks begin in Geneva
Talks on post-crisis management following the brief August war between Georgia and Russia started today (15 October) in Geneva, with EU officials admitting that it will be difficult to find a solution.
Twelve wise men to rethink Europe
Details of the composition of a planned but somewhat controversial reflection group in charge of anticipating long-term challenges to the Union are starting to emerge. It now appears that the nine wise men will in fact be twelve, as the chairman of the Group Felipe Gonzalez had not included himself and his two deputies in his proposal to the French EU Presidency.
EU struggles to choose ‘wise men’ to ponder its future
The French Presidency wants an EU summit on 15-16 October to back the establishment of a "group of wise men" to lead reflections on Europe's future, but there is still no agreement on its composition, EURACTIV has learned from diplomatic sources.
France and Russia in tune on Europe’s security
Meeting in the French resort city of Evian, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev yesterday (8 October) turned a new leaf in the Georgia crisis and voiced similar messages about the need to reconstruct Europe's security architecture.
Interview: Farmers affected by financial crisis
Ahead of a meeting of EU agriculture ministers to discuss the future of the bloc's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EPP-ED group chairman Joseph Daul outlined the stakes and fresh challenges facing the EU in an interview with EURACTIV France.
France-Russia business booming despite Georgia crisis
French Prime Minister François Fillon and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin met in the Black Sea Resort of Sotchi on Saturday (20 September). Unveiling an impressive bilateral economic package, they seem to have put disagreements over the recent Georgia crisis on the back burner.
The European Pact on Immigration and Asylum
The French EU Presidency is finalising a European immigration pact which seeks to balance calls for stricter control of migratory flows with respect for developing countries and the human rights of asylum seekers.
Scholar: Czech Presidency to push for removal of labour restrictions
The motto of the Czech EU Presidency, starting in January 2009, will be 'Europe without barriers', with the removal of labour market restrictions on newer member states among its top priorities, David Král, director of the EU policy programme at the Europeum Institute for European Policy in Prague, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Interview: Czechs to push for closer transatlantic ties at EU helm
The first EU-US summit to take place with the newly-elected American President will be a major highlight of the Czech EU Presidency which starts in January 2009, says David Král of the Europeum Institute for European Policy in Prague. But he also warns that Prague’s excellent relations with Washington could also further strain the EU's relations with Moscow.
EU peace mission to Georgia up in the air
Controversy erupted yesterday (10 September) over the terms of an EU-sponsored mission to Georgia, as Moscow refused to allow European ceasefire monitors to observe the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions now officially recognised by Russia.
EU keeps door half-open for Ukraine
By keeping Ukraine's EU accession prospects alive, European Union leaders yesterday (9 September) steered clear of creating a "damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't" situationby balancing a desire to encourage the country's pro-Western leadership with concerns not to further radicalise Moscow in the wake of the Georgia crisis.
EU to keep peace after Moscow OKs Georgia pull-out
The EU delegation to Russia, led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday (8 September), succeeded in convincing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to agree to a complete withdrawal of troops from Georgia proper – although Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain outside the scope of the agreement. Russia also recognised the EU's role as "guarantor of peace" in the country.