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France’s priorities during its Presidency of the EU, from 1 July to 31 December 2008, will focus on protecting EU citizens.

"The Presidency of the European Council, is not about imposing your own ideas but, on the contrary, working to put forward other people’s ideas with a view to achieving the desired consensus," recalled Bernard Kouchner on 13 May. It is important to make the most of the coming six months at the helm of the EU in order to be a sort of “loud speaker”. The French Presidency is of particular interest to the other EU Member States since it coincides with ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The French Prime Minister has requested the entire government to work together on four top priorities defined by Nicolas Sarkozy: sustainable development and energy, the European Pact on immigration and asylum, boosting Europe’s defence capabilities and the review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its future.

Ministers must also focus their efforts on policies for economic growth and employment, including measures designed to support SMEs, labour-management relations, women’s rights, tax issues, cultural policy, transport and telecommunications.

Coordination with the EU agenda is crucial

These priorities are in line with the multi-year agenda defined by the European Commission, especially insofar as concerns the issue of global warming. On this subject, about a dozen policy agreements need to be forged if Europe is to take a leading role at the international conference to be held in Copenhagen in 2009.

This programme carries on from previous Presidencies:
  France has drawn up the Council’s work programme for 2008 in liaison with Slovenia, which holds the Presidency for the first six months of the year;
  it has also been working with Czech Republic and Sweden, who will take over the Council Presidency after France, with a view to ensuring continuity insofar as the Council’s actions in 2008 and 2009 are concerned.