French presidency of the EU: Macron will hold a press conference on Thursday, the second in 4 years

On January 1, 2022, France will chair the Council of the European Union.

States access it in turn.

This position will give the French government a little more space to print its ideas on a European scale.

An important political moment, therefore, a few months before the presidential election.

Macron knows it.

To mark the occasion and detail the program of France, the President of the Republic has announced that he would lend himself to the press conference game on Thursday, December 9, the second of his term.

He "will present the main European priorities that France will carry during the presidency", specifies the Elysee this Sunday.

And will therefore answer questions from journalists.

Among the hottest issues, tensions at the borders, facing the lookout for migrants, and the manipulations of Belarus.

The situation in Ukraine, which fears annexation of part of its territory by Russia.

Tensions with UK over fishing licenses.

Among other things.

A political ... and electoral meeting

Emmanuel Macron, who presents himself as a convinced European, has already expressed on several occasions the importance he attached to this 6-month presidency, which will coincide with the campaigns for the presidential election of April 10 and 24 and then for legislative elections scheduled for June in France.

“The fact that he is speaking at this time is of course not without political ulterior motives.

Not so much for Zemmour, who cares about Zemmour, because his candidacy is already installed in people's minds.

On the other hand, the subject is really to know how to occupy the ground when the right will choose its leader for the presidential election ”, recognizes one of the advisers of the Elysee.

Its basic objectives are in particular to "strengthen European sovereignty", in particular through military autonomy, to reform the Schengen agreements, to advance the "climate package" with carbon taxation and to rebuild "a peace and development treaty. 'friendship with Africa' under the aegis of the EU.

Set the agenda for meetings

This rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which brings together the 27 member countries but does not govern the Commission, will allow France to moderate the debates by setting the agenda of the meetings, and thus put forward its priorities.

A defense summit is notably planned during the first three months of the presidency, during which the most important meetings will be organized, before the presidential election.

Emmanuel Macron should also unveil on Thursday the list of cities in which several events of the French presidency will be organized and unveil the emblem, according to the Elysee.

At the same time, Prime Minister Jean Castex is due to bring together the presidents of the parliamentary groups of the European Parliament and its president David Sassoli on the same day.