With the turn of the year, France took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), following Slovenia. The Council consists of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level and is the EU co-legislator together with the European Parliament. While it is the European Commission, EU executive, that has the power to propose new EU legislation, the co-legislators in principle get to amend and adopt such proposals. The Presidency of the Council drives forward the Council’s work on EU legislation and ensures the continuity of the EU agenda (in cooperation with the European Commission and Parliament).

According to its programme titled ‘Recovery, Strength and a Sense of Belonging’, the French Presidency has three high-level ambitions:

• A more sovereign Europe (including in security and defence),

• A new European model for growth (in which economic development is aligned with climate goals and that supports innovation and the growth of European digital players and sets its own rules for the digital world), and

• A humane Europe (without discrimination).