This Thursday, December 19, a European Council like no other began in Brussels. First, it takes place over a single day, a desire of the new President of the European Council, the Portuguese Antonio Costa. Then, a major figure is missing: Emmanuel Macron, who had to “ dry » this advice for going to Mayotte. Having left last night, the French president will still be represented at this European summit, but by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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With our special correspondent in Brussels,
A rather extraordinary situation, but one which is provided for by the European Treaties: an EU leader can be represented, provided that the representative is another member of the Council, in other words another European leader. It is therefore Olaf Scholz who takes this role, in the name of European solidarity.
“ This is my opportunity to represent my friend Emmanuel Macron and France, since he went to Mayotte. It is very important because it is a terrible natural disaster which struck Mayotte and we are all on the side of France “, declared the Chancellor German This morning.
“ In the name of Franco-German cooperation “.
If Emmanuel Macron chose Olaf Scholz to represent him, it is above all in the name of Franco-German cooperation. But in the current context, this is not a natural choice. Indeed, the two men do not always share the same vision, and many areas of friction exist between Paris and Berlin, from Mercosur to nuclear power.
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However, none of these sensitive topics will be discussed today in Brussels. The Élysée specifies that the broad outlines of the final conclusions have already been adopted. Emmanuel Macron can thus thank Antonio Costawho, as the new President of the European Council, wanted to shake up habits by preparing these European Councils more in advance, in order to condense them into a single day.
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