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With French-flavoured EU line-up, Macron builds future influence

By Michel Rose, Robin Emmott and Jean-Baptiste Vey

 

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron attends a news conference after the European Union leaders summit, in Brussels, Belgium, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir/File Photo

 

PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - After struggling to get his way in Brussels for much of the past two years, Emmanuel Macron can claim a rare victory in brokering a deal on Europe's new leadership team, in a sign the French president might wield greater influence in coming years.

 

Three days of tortuous marathon talks came to fruition on Tuesday when EU leaders accepted Macron's suggestion to place France's Christine Lagarde at the European Central Bank and Germany's Ursula Von der Leyen at the European Commission.

 

The French leader had pitched the centre-right female duo to Angela Merkel the day before, an EU source said, offering the German chancellor an honourable way of dropping her favourite candidate, Manfred Weber, whom Macron had firmly opposed.

 

The line-up, which also includes Belgian caretaker prime minister Charles Michel at the European Council - a key power-broking role between EU leaders - and Spain's French-speaking Josep Borrell as foreign policy chief, has a distinctly French flavour.

 

"He has come out of this pretty well," an EU diplomat told Reuters.

 

"He was the force behind getting Von der Leyen into the Commission, his liberal ally Michel got the Council and he lined up Lagarde nicely for the ECB, while Borrell, Von der Leyen also speak fluent French."

 

Despite goodwill among EU leaders immediately after his election in 2017, the europhile French leader had struggled to push through his ambitious agenda for further integration in the euro zone and had found himself isolated on issues such asBrexit and trade policy, hitting opposition from Berlin and pro-austerity northern European countries.

 

But since European Parliament elections in May, which gave Macron's party a decisive say in the liberal Renew Europe grouping that is indispensable to form a majority, the French president now has enough allies to make himself heard, analysts say.

 

Teaming up with centre-left and liberal leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Portugal's Antonio Costa, Belgium's Michel and Luxembourg's Xavier Bettel, has served as a counterweight to Berlin.

 

"He is now at the centre of the game but also at the centre of the European political spectrum," Eric Maurice, head of the Schuman Foundation think-tank's Brussels bureau, told Reuters.

 

"With a compatible president of the European Commission, more influence at the European parliament and allies at the European Council, we can imagine he will now be able to push through change," he added.

 

'CONSTRUCTIVE AMBIGUITY'

Another reason for Macron's success was cunning diplomacy. He kept his cards close to his chest for much of the negotiations and refraining from putting his weight behind a single candidate, despite Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, a Frenchman, being often touted as a frontrunner to head the Commission.

 

"All along, he maintained a sort of constructive ambiguity, and had the intelligence of not pushing for Michel Barnier," Maurice said.

Other EU leaders were less guarded, and paid the price.

 

"He seemed to have a plan B, I'm not sure that's the case for Sanchez, who faces a lot of anger among the socialists for giving up (Frans) Timmermans, and Merkel, who faced a revolt from the European People's Party right from Sunday afternoon," the EU diplomat said.

 

The French delegation also remained modest, aware of the traditional accusations of arrogance levelled at France and Macron. "It's a good result for France," a French diplomat simply said on Wednesday after the summit.

 

To be sure, Macron's refusal to accept Weber, and his months-long, outspoken campaign against the Spitzenkandidaten system of pre-decided lead candidates for the European Commission will leave a scar in Germany, diplomats say.

 

But by offering Germany the possibility to have its first German national at the head of the European executive since the 1960s, he can claim to have put Europe before party while fending off burgeoning accusations of anti-German behaviour.

 

"By tabling the name of Von der Leyen, he has mended his relationship with Germany while refusing its candidate," Gerard Araud, a former French ambassador, said on Twitter.

 

Diplomats say Macron will still face opposition on some of his key planks, including from the Netherlands on euro zone reform or from the Visegrad group of eastern European nations on the rule of law or immigration.

 

But now Merkel is at the end of her time in office, Macron can claim the mantle of de facto EU leader, observers say.

 

"He has built political capital for the long term, and can expect a certain reciprocity and kindness from others on future challenges," the Schuman Foundation's Maurice said.

 

"While Angela Merkel no longer has the dominant, uncontested position she once held."

 

(Additional reporting by Belen Carreno in Madrid, Andreas Rinke in Berlin and Elizabeth Pineau in Paris; Editing by Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-04

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[nauseus]

key planks - like Verhofstadt?

[aright]

[Aforek]

1 hour ago, aright said:

You speak of last year, since then, things have changed; you should update your informations ; personally, I am French and I like Macron, he has a good future, but I know many people don't agree ( mai pen rai ???? ) 

[Aforek]

For the last european elections, his party got the first place from the French expats in Thailand 

[aright]

42 minutes ago, Aforek said:

You speak of last year, since then, things have changed; you should update your informations ; personally, I am French and I like Macron, he has a good future, but I know many people don't agree ( mai pen rai ???? ) 

It is my understanding in May his approval rating was 30%....this is a significant reduction from the 60% he had when he took office.

I have just returned from France after a month business and pleasure trip and anecdotally imo nothing has changed. I witnessed a large yellow vest demonstration in Marseille and in conversations with business colleagues, friends and people I met in sidewalk cafes the majority were not enamoured of Macron. The one question which drew the most negative response was if France had the choice to join the EU now would you. I would say half said no. There were as many businesses closing or closed as there are in the UK (that seems pan European) and beggars on the streets in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Tours.

Don't get me wrong I love France and will always spend leisure time there......food, wine, climate, lifestyle and the friendliness of the new French, place it high on my list. My fight is with the EU ...I have no desire to be part of a non democratic Political Union and certainly no desire to wreck the building on the way out.

This best expresses my feelings about the recent appointees...……...

 

As returning officer for Brussels Central, I announce the results of the votes cast in the elections for the EU top jobs as follows.  Van der Leven, Ursula (Ixelles) - zero. Borrell, Josef (La Pobla de Segur) - zero. Lagarde, Christine (Paris) - zero. Michel, Charles (Namur) - zero.

 

I duly declare that all the above are appointed from behind closed doors and without my knowledge.

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, aright said:

It is my understanding in May his approval rating was 30%....this is a significant reduction from the 60% he had when he took office.

I have just returned from France after a month business and pleasure trip and anecdotally imo nothing has changed. I witnessed a large yellow vest demonstration in Marseille and in conversations with business colleagues, friends and people I met in sidewalk cafes the majority were not enamoured of Macron. The one question which drew the most negative response was if France had the choice to join the EU now would you. I would say half said no. There were as many businesses closing or closed as there are in the UK (that seems pan European) and beggars on the streets in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Tours.

Don't get me wrong I love France and will always spend leisure time there......food, wine, climate, lifestyle and the friendliness of the new French, place it high on my list. My fight is with the EU ...I have no desire to be part of a non democratic Political Union and certainly no desire to wreck the building on the way out.

This best expresses my feelings about the recent appointees...……...

 

As returning officer for Brussels Central, I announce the results of the votes cast in the elections for the EU top jobs as follows.  Van der Leven, Ursula (Ixelles) - zero. Borrell, Josef (La Pobla de Segur) - zero. Lagarde, Christine (Paris) - zero. Michel, Charles (Namur) - zero.

 

I duly declare that all the above are appointed from behind closed doors and without my knowledge.

 

Interesting sentiments and personal reflections - thank you for that.

 

However, just to be clear, the 4 appointees you mention were appointed by the duly elected leaders of the member states. The way in which these appointees have been selected, and the caliber of each appointee is a direct reflection on the people who've been elected to lead their own country's governments!

[Baerboxer]

At some point, no idea of timescale, Germany and France will fall out as each wants to be top dog in the EU.

 

When, not if, that happens, Britain and US won't bail them out again.

[nauseus]

35 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Interesting sentiments and personal reflections - thank you for that.

 

However, just to be clear, the 4 appointees you mention were appointed by the duly elected leaders of the member states. The way in which these appointees have been selected, and the caliber of each appointee is a direct reflection on the people who've been elected to lead their own country's governments!

Yes. They are all quite poor aren't they?

[nauseus]

35 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

At some point, no idea of timescale, Germany and France will fall out as each wants to be top dog in the EU.

 

When, not if, that happens, Britain and US won't bail them out again.

Well let's hope so.

[nauseus]

37 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Interesting sentiments and personal reflections - thank you for that.

 

However, just to be clear, the 4 appointees you mention were appointed by the duly elected leaders of the member states. The way in which these appointees have been selected, and the caliber of each appointee is a direct reflection on the people who've been elected to lead their own country's governments!

Hands up how many had heard of the new EU Commissioner before 2 days ago? 

[aright]

13 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Interesting sentiments and personal reflections - thank you for that.

 

However, just to be clear, the 4 appointees you mention were appointed by the duly elected leaders of the member states. The way in which these appointees have been selected, and the caliber of each appointee is a direct reflection on the people who've been elected to lead their own country's governments!

That's the whole point isn't it.....They were selected by people I didn't elect so my voice wasn't heard, only one person was chosen so democracy wasn't served and with only one proposed candidate for each position what choice do the MEP's have to exercise their political judgement and so called democratic mandate?

I repeat; the names of the appointees were agreed behind closed doors by the only body that can propose law. Show me the competing commission manifestos we get to vote on?

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, aright said:

It is my understanding in May his approval rating was 30%

The Harris Interactive survey, conducted on May 28-30 for LCI television, said Mr Macron’s trust rating stood at 40 percent – a level not reached since June 2018. 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1136309/macron-news-popularity-yellow-vest-protests-eu-election

 

[aright]

9 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The Harris Interactive survey, conducted on May 28-30 for LCI television, said Mr Macron’s trust rating stood at 40 percent – a level not reached since June 2018. 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1136309/macron-news-popularity-yellow-vest-protests-eu-election

 

Ifop-Fiducial publishes two polls each month: one on the popularity of the executive and the second on various political personalities, including Macron and Philippe.

In a poll taken on 26/27 June this year the poll gave Macron an approval rating of 38% and a disapproval rating of 62%.

I think the disapproval rating will attract more attention but at the end of the day you pays your money and you takes your pick.

 

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

At some point, no idea of timescale, Germany and France will fall out as each wants to be top dog in the EU.

 

When, not if, that happens, Britain and US won't bail them out again.

Why should France be the top dog? 4 Trillion GDP for germany, 2.8 Trillion for france, same as the UK.... big big economic difference.

How should the UK bail someone out even, you can be lucky if they don't need to be bailed out after brexit.

 

50 minutes ago, nauseus said:

Hands up how many had heard of the new EU Commissioner before 2 days ago? 

Well, if you are european and you don't know the defense minister of the biggest economy - that's pretty much your own ignorance.

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Why should France be the top dog? 4 Trillion GDP for germany, 2.8 Trillion for france, same as the UK.... big big economic difference.

How should the UK bail someone out even, you can be lucky if they don't need to be bailed out after brexit.

 

Well, if you are european and you don't know the defense minister of the biggest economy - that's pretty much your own ignorance.

So a majority of "Europeans" knew of her? Right.