French presidency of the EU: the French see it more as an "asset" for Macron

It is called “PFUE”.

For the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will begin on January 1, 2022. France will exercise this function for six months, taking over from Slovenia.

The French are twice as likely to consider that this presidency of the EU by France will be an advantage (32%) rather than a handicap (16%) for Emmanuel Macron, according to an Odoxa-Backbone Consulting poll for

.

A majority of those polled nevertheless believe that the PFUE will be neither an asset nor a handicap for the President of the Republic (52%).

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Three axes are put forward by the Élysée for the PFUE: "Relaunch, power, belonging".

For the President of the Republic, not yet officially a candidate for re-election, it will be a question of highlighting his pro-European commitment.

European issues should also have an impact on the future presidential campaign: 63% of French people assure that candidates' proposals for Europe will count in their choice of vote.

It is among the sympathizers of Europe-Écologie-Les-Verts (79%) and of the Socialist Party (78%) that European subjects are most important.

Interest is lower among supporters of the National Rally (61%) and Republicans (66%).

Multiple priorities for Europe

The electorate is, however, divided on the issues that France should take up.

The French people questioned set three priorities for the Head of State's European action: the fight against illegal immigration and the revival of the economy (48%) as well as the fight against the Covid epidemic and its consequences (44%).

But the protection of industries (37%) and the fight against climate change (35%) are also highlighted.

In addition, the fight against illegal immigration is clearly the priority of the PFUE for supporters of the Republicans (73%) and the National Rally (78%).

For those close to EELV, the main issue of the PFUE would first of all be the response to climate change (62%).

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This poll also underlines that the idea of ​​the new German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, "

" is gaining ground in France.

Thus, 58% of the people questioned support this idea, in order to increase the strategic sovereignty of the EU.

European federalism would therefore not necessarily be a "bad word" for the French, if Emmanuel Macron were to express a favorable opinion on this subject.