In a delicate economic context - inflation, tensions over energy supplies - Elisabeth Borne was firmly awaited by the bosses on Monday.
His speech, on the first day of the Meeting of Entrepreneurs of France (REF), serves as the government's economic return.
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After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opened the Medef summer school with a speech from his office in kyiv, the French Prime Minister succeeded him, at the microphone of the Parisian Longchamp racecourse this time.
"
The summer we have just spent is a powerful wake-up call
," began the Prime Minister, referring to the climatic disasters that may have affected the French regions.
“
Climate change is no longer an inconvenient truth, it is a reality that destroys
”, she believes, addressing in parallel the threat that the war in Ukraine poses to democratic values.
"
I want to assure Ukraine of France's full support, we will be by its side until the end.
We discussed seven sanctions packages against Russia, with one objective: to make the price of war unbearable for Russia
.”
“
No, there are no state superprofits
”
Elisabeth Borne acknowledged: “
Yes, these sanctions have a cost.
Freedom has a price.
This war has heavy, lasting consequences
.
The Prime Minister repeated that the State had assumed its responsibilities: "
We have acted to limit the effects of the rise in prices and protect the purchasing power of the French people
", she declared, adding that "
new measures will come into force in the coming days
.”
And wanted to respond to Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, who had assured a few minutes before at the podium that the State had made superprofits thanks to the energy crisis.
"
No, there are no superprofits on the state side
," she said.
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"
We must implement radical and innovative solutions and initiate powerful changes in our way of producing and investing
" called Élisabeth Borne, calling on companies, associations and citizens to "
unite
" in the face of the difficulties to come, in particular in matter of energy supply.
"
There is no immediate alternative to compensate
" the decrease in Russian gas imports, she warned.
"
We already know that we will have less gas this winter than in other years
," she admitted.
Elisabeth Borne assured that gas storage in France would be "
100%
" by next winter.
Reduce energy consumption by 10%
“
This crisis is a new challenge for European solidarity because we would strongly suffer the consequences of a European economic slowdown.
We have only one path: lower energy consumption.
This reduction, I propose that we organize it together
, ”enjoined the Prime Minister.
According to her, we must fight against energy consumption “
which is not essential
”.
The pact it proposes is therefore to “
prefer chosen energy savings rather than chosen cuts
”.
Sobriety is also a responsibility as a citizen.
“
Everyone must ask themselves what they can do to consume less at their level and given their means
,” explained Élisabeth Borne, indicating that a vast information campaign on eco-gestures will be launched in the coming weeks. .
And to add that sobriety finally concerns companies of course.
“
The first concrete commitments have been made, particularly in mass distribution
”.
“
I await the proposals made by Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux,
underlined the Prime Minister.
The model of an ambassador in each company had worked well, I invite you to implement it.
I therefore call on everyone to draw up their own plan in September,
” continued Élisabeth Borne, who recalled the government's plan to set up a “
trade market
” for consumption rights.
A meeting is scheduled for early October to visualize the different energy consumption scenarios this winter and any rationing that will be necessary, she warned.
"
The coming months are just a step towards the deeper changes that we must undertake
," she said, promoting a "radical evolution".
Global plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Elisabeth Borne announced the launch of a "
global and comprehensive plan
" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which "
will be the counterpart of the European green deal
".
It will establish "
how we move, feed ourselves, consume
", she said, indicating that it will be built "
sector by sector
".
“
As of September, we will launch the first rounds of discussions and negotiations for the first three key sectors
,” she announced.
This is the forest.
water and carbon-free energy production around nuclear and renewable energies.
This process will be initiated "
during the autumn
" with all the sectors, "
with the objective of achieving a complete vision of our ecological planning by the end of the year
,” she said.
“
Companies that do not transform will see their attractiveness diminish or even disappear.
We will act to give you a vision, a clear framework
, ”said the Prime Minister.
"
The ecological transition is at the heart of our strategy for full employment
", said the Prime Minister, for whom "
it is accessible to us
".
The head of government assured that the executive would carry out “
all the necessary reforms, for some in the coming weeks, in order to remove the obstacles to full employment
”.
She cited in particular the reform of unemployment insurance, a bill of which will be presented to the National Assembly "
as soon as parliament returns
".
Avoid symbolic measures
The president of Medef Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux was the first to speak at the start of the afternoon, highlighting the efforts of companies to respect the objectives of the Paris Agreement for the climate.
According to him, the “
Strategic State
” must participate in the construction of a “
carbon-free capitalism
”.
“
We must not give up producing, working.
Companies will do their part to achieve the objectives of energy sobriety,
”he believes, citing the subjects of employee travel and production techniques.
The boss of bosses also called on the government to "
avoid symbolic measures
", referring to current debates over private jets and golf courses.