Seven European election candidates, including Jordan Bardella from the National Rally, Valérie Hayer from Renaissance, Marie Toussaint from The Ecologists, Manon Aubry from La France Insoumise, François-Xavier Bellamy from The Republicans, Raphaël Glucksmann from the Socialist Party, and Marion Maréchal from Reconquête, attended a meeting with the French employers’ organization, Medef, in Paris on April 18, 2024. The Medef wanted to understand the intentions of these candidates regarding European issues after presenting a series of thirty measures that reiterated their pro-European stance on April 9.
In the three-hour meeting, the candidates were questioned on their views on European economic matters, including standards, the Green Deal, free trade agreements, reindustrialization, and energy issues. The Medef, which had previously criticized the European Union and the Green Deal, wanted to hear how the candidates planned to address the needs of its 190,000 member companies as outlined in its “propositions for an enterprising Europe.” The Medef emphasized the importance of a strong, streamlined Europe.
Most of the candidates used the opportunity to charm the French business community by emphasizing the importance of “simplification,” European sovereignty, and the establishment of a sovereign fund for investment, aligning with the main proposals put forward by the Medef. Jordan Bardella, leading in the polls, emphasized the need for growth to reassure economic circles, while François-Xavier Bellamy criticized the EU for overregulation and advocated for a “pause” in norms to regain freedom. The candidates discussed promoting European-made products and implementing environmental and social criteria.
The Medef’s proposals included creating a “Buy European Act” based on environmental and social considerations and encouraging products “Made in Europe.” Bardella, Hayer, Toussaint, Aubry, Bellamy, Glucksmann, and Maréchal each presented their views on how to unlock growth in the EU and address the challenges faced by European businesses. They tackled issues such as the balance between innovation and regulation and the importance of investing in European industries. The Medef’s President emphasized the need for a stronger and more effective Europe in the face of growing Euroscepticism.
Overall, the candidates’ appearances before the French employers’ organization were seen as an exercise in courting the support of the business community by addressing issues that are important to French companies. The discussion encompassed a wide range of economic topics and allowed the candidates to present their visions for Europe, emphasizing the need for a dynamic and competitive European market. The Medef focused on promoting a stronger European economy and a more business-friendly regulatory environment, drawing attention to the significance of European businesses in the global market.
