The European Council on Foreign Relations

First thoughts on Alain Juppé, the new French MFA

Date: 2nd March 2011  |  Author: François Godement,

Categories: Europe and the world,
Tags: , africa, defence, sarkozy, france

A quick take on Alain Juppé’s first day, after the disastrous weeks that preceded his nomination:

Juppé has already spoken twice (at the Quai for the handover ceremony, and also at the National Assembly).

He has staked out six goals for France’s foreign policy:

1)     Strengthening Euromed development and institutions. Comment: this follows a speech on Sunday by Sarkozy, who has admitted we are at a historical turning point. South of the Med, societies will never be the same again; all of our policies must be revised

2)     More construction of European defence policy and politics. Juppé comes out very strongly, saying France has little weight without the European axis. Comment: this may both serve UK-France defence cooperation and also goad Brussels into more coherence.

3)     Multilateralism. Comment: this is a French specialty, although Sarkozy does not like publicly to use those complicated words. It’s also natural in a G8 and G20 year. But Juppé is a professional who will invest more in the process, including at the UN.

4)     Focusing more on Africa. Comment: could just be a response to Quai traditionalists, who in a public though anonymous op-ed bemoaned what they called the “loss of Africa”. But there are also signs that some African societies may be ready to emulate the Tunisian and Egyptian pattern.

5)    Strategic partnerships with emerging powers – he has cited China and India.

6)     Forecasting… Ironically, this is an Alliot-Marie legacy,; she insisted on a staff with predictive abilities. But one would expect Juppé to know his business there too.  

And finally: do expect a renewed cabinet around him.

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