About: Michel Sapin

At G7 ministerial, US fails to reassure EU, Japan over ‘Trumponomics’

The United States said on 13 May the world's other rich economies were getting used to the policy plans of President Donald Trump, but Europe and Japan showed they remained worried about Washington's shift.

Belgium told to get off the fence, stop blocking FTT

EU finance ministers have presented a compromise text for the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) and urged Slovakia and Belgium, which is accused of deliberately blocking negotiations, to ratify it. EURACTIV France reports.

Dijsselbloem to open debate on his future as Eurogroup chief

Acting Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said yesterday (20 March) that he would have a discussion with his eurozone colleagues about his continuation as Eurogroup president, following the electoral debacle of his party in The Netherlands.

Molière clause threatens to sink posted workers reform

The proliferation of ‘Molière clauses’ in France could undermine the EU’s revision of the Posted Workers Directive, which Paris has been spearheading. EURACTIV France reports.

French PM visits Athens to offer support on bailout talks

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, accompanied by Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir, will visit Greece today (3 March), aiming to offer political backing for the crucial bailout talks of the indebted country.

France calls on Germany to hike investment spending

France’s Economy Minister Michel Sapin has dismissed a US attack on Germany's trade surplus but urged Europe's biggest economy to boost its spending on investment.

Greece snubs lenders, approves Christmas bonus

Greece snubbed its international lenders and legislated plans yesterday (15 December) to give pensioners a one-off Christmas bonus despite misgivings from creditors in a standoff over the country's third bailout.

Eurogroup ignores Commission’s expansionary fiscal target

Some eurozone members have expressed their willingness to invest more but did not take on board the executive’s proposal for a common positive fiscal stance to boost the bloc’s recovery, at a Eurogroup meeting held today (5 December).

French lawmakers protect whistleblowers, urge EU to follow suit

French MPs on Tuesday (8 November) voted to strengthen legal protection for whistleblowers, as MEPs pushed the Commission to take action at European level. EURACTIV France reports.

Member states play politics with tax havens blacklist

The EU's tax haven blacklist is due to be finalised by the end of 2017. But the inclusion of countries with zero tax rates has divided member states. EURACTIV France reports.

Eurozone says more debt relief for Greece ‘impossible’ for now

Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, in a move likely to anger Athens and the IMF, warned yesterday (7 November) it would be impossible to draw up fresh debt relief for Greece by year's end.

France strengthens financial transaction tax to fund development

France will increase its Financial Transaction Tax in an attempt to halt the decline of its official development assistance budget, which has been cut each year since 2012. EURACTIV France reports.

French right plans to deepen the deficit in 2017

During François Hollande's five years as president, France has tightened its belt and brought its budget deficit down to within EU limits, Michel Sapin said on Tuesday (20 September). But the opposition appears ready to abandon austerity. EURACTIV France reports.

As elections near, French politicians renew assaults on EU budget rules

Nobody yet knows the winner of France's presidential election next year, but the smart money is on one loser: the 3% cap on government deficits enshrined in eurozone rules.

France will issue the first state ‘green bond’ in 2017

France will become the world's first state to issue "green bonds" in 2017, as part of its effort to finance environmentally friendly investments. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.

Europhile Macron quits French government to ‘offer something new’

After two years in office, France’s controversial Economy Minister, Emmanuel Macron, has resigned. Macron made himself popular with his EU counterparts by placing Europe at the heart of his political message. EURACTIV France reports.

Brexit is risk to global growth, says G20

Britain's vote to leave the European Union heightens risks for the world economy, finance chiefs from the G20 group of leading countries said Sunday (24 July), vowing to use "all policy tools" to boost growth.

Commission threatens Spain and Portugal with fines

The EU threatened Spain and Portugal Tuesday (12 July) with huge fines for failing to fix years of high deficits, in the first time Brussels has wielded its disciplinary powers over member states' budgets.

France responds to the ‘shock’ of Brexit

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union will take effect from 2019. For the French, Brexit came as a surprise: a sad one for some, a happy one for others. For some French Europhiles, it is even a breath of fresh air. EURACTIV France reports.

France to strengthen whistleblower protection in economic reform bill

After the EU's fierce debate whistleblower protection, France has proposed a much tighter set of safeguards in its draft bill for transparency and the modernisation of the economy. EURACTIV France reports.

Brexit: Paris stock exchange to ‘assert its strength’

The Paris stock exchange plans to “assert its strength” to attract international businesses, taking advantage of the potential damage Brexit could do to the City of London, French sources said on Monday (30 May).

Eurogroup achieves ‘major breakthrough’ to unlock further cash for Greece

Eurozone finance ministers reached a vital deal with Greece in the early hours today (25 May) to start debt relief for Athens as demanded by the International Monetary Fund, and to unlock €10.3 billion in bailout cash.

Marathon negotiations on the eurozone budget continue

European lawmakers are trying to push ahead with plans for a eurozone budget. A consensus in the European Parliament could finally unblock the political debate. EURACTIV France reports.

Is the Eurogroup’s offer of a debt restructure really a victory for Tsipras?

Eurozone finance ministers yesterday (9 May) proposed to restructure the Greek debt, but with conditions that could cost Athens dearly. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.