European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad extends his hand to Jordan Bardella
Benjamin Haddad, the new Minister of European Affairs, gave an interview to the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), stating that France continues to defend its interests in Europe despite the political crisis of last summer. He stressed that, since 2017, the European agenda has been aligned with French priorities, particularly in terms of reindustrialization, defense and energy policies. Haddad also stressed the importance of European cooperation in the face of migration challenges, rejecting any response based on “national withdrawal” and calling for the strengthening of tools such as Frontex.
Regarding political relations, Haddad opened the door to dialogue with all elected officials, including Jordan Bardella of the National Rally, while respecting the choice of voters. However, he insisted on the need for Europe to demonstrate concrete benefits in the lives of citizens to avoid a shift towards sovereignty.
On the migration front, Haddad defended the Asylum and Migration Pact, while calling for new reforms to speed up the return of those whose asylum applications have been rejected. He also proposed a strengthened partnership with the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean to control migratory flows. In response to criticism of Frontex, he stressed that the agency is being strengthened with the aim of recruiting 10 men.
Finally, on the issue of Ukraine, Haddad reaffirmed France's position in favor of increased military support, including the idea of providing Ukraine with missiles capable of hitting targets in Russia, while emphasizing European sovereignty and the importance of strengthening common defense.