EP Conference of Presidents meets with the incoming French Presidency of the Council - Meeting with Richard FERRAND, Speaker of the French Assembly and with Members of the French Parliament

EP Conference of Presidents meets with the incoming French Presidency of the Council - Press Conference by David SASSOLI, EP President and Jean CASTEX, French Prime Minister

EP Conference of Presidents meets with the incoming French Presidency of the Council - Bilateral meeting between David SASSOLI, EP President and Jean CASTEX, French Prime Minister

EP Conference of Presidents meets with the incoming French Presidency of the Council: Meeting with Richard FERRAND, Speaker of the French Assembly and with Members of the French Parliament

Press conference by Richard FERRAND, President of the National Assembly; David SASSOLI, President of the EP and Roger KAROUTCHI, First Vice-President of the Senate on the incoming French Presidency of the Council

EP Conference of Presidents meets with the incoming French Presidency of the Council: Bilateral meeting between David SASSOLI, EP President and Jean CASTEX, French Prime Minister, arrival and roundtable, Meeting with French Governement

Press Conference by David SASSOLI, EP President and Jean CASTEX, French Prime Minister

From January to June 2022, France holds the Presidency of the EU Council, following the Slovenian Presidency and preceding the Czech Presidency.  During January plenary session MEPs will discuss with French President Emmanuel Macron the political strategy and aims of France’s six-month helm of the EU. The motto of the French Presidency is “Recovery, Strength and a Sense of Belonging”, to underline that, in order to fight the health crisis, the rise of aggressive foreign powers and climate disruption, the best response is a European response. In terms of EU legislation, France plans to give priority to negotiations on the new Digital Services and Markets Acts, the establishment of an adjustment system for carbon pricing at the EU’s borders, and on common minimum wages rules. The Conference on the Future of Europe is expected to deliver its proposals in the course of the French Presidency semester in the first half of 2022. The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme.