June 13, 2008. Shanghai campus - With a little over two weeks to go before France assumes the Presidency of the European Union, Ambassador of the Republic of France to China, His Excellency Mr. Herve Ladsous today gave a broad outline of the issues that will be at the forefront of France’s tenure. He was speaking during a CEIBS EU-China BMT Lecture Series event at the CEIBS Shanghai campus. 

Ambassador of the Republic of France to China, His Excellency Mr. Herve Ladsous.

An audience of roughly 300, including diplomats from other EU member states, business executives, CEIBS MBA and university students, and the media, attended the speech entitled "Priorities of the EU’s French Presidency". During his address, Ambassador Ladsous pointed out that the French government is still in consultations on the issue and would present a more detailed blueprint of France’s approach after it assumes the EU Presidency on July 1. He told the audience, however, that the issues on which France would likely focus include:
- discussions surrounding the appointment Ministers of Foreign Affairs for the EU
- European defense
- immigration
- sustainable energy and
- a common agricultural policy.

The appointment of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs is one component of the Lisbon Treaty, the signing of which will be among the top priorities of France’s EU Presidency. It is expected that the Treaty (which does not address constitutional issues but aims to establish new institutions within the EU) will help boost the EU’s image as a political entity. "The European Union is not only about economics, trade, currency and visa issues; it is also first and foremost a political process," Ambassador Ladsous stressed.

With regards to European defense, the Ambassador said the EU, during France’s time at the helm, will work closely with NATO while at the same time seizing opportunities to build up Europe’s defense capabilities.

Illegal immigration, he said, would have to be addressed decisively but humanely and would require extensive bilateral negotiations.

Among the challenges with which France will have to grapple during its EU Presidency, the Ambassador said, is the formulation of a common energy policy that will foster sustainable growth. “We also need to increase our efforts on scientific and technical research,” he said.

Ambassador Ladsous then followed up with an analysis of EU-China relations, during which he pointed to a series of upcoming meetings as evidence of strong Sino-European relations. He added, however, that there was room for improvement, saying, "The EU-China relationship is not where it should be. There can be and has to be some progress." Even in the face of these challenges, he told the audience, there were many areas of commonality between China and the EU, such as: a multi-polar view of the world and a willingness to contribute in facing global challenges such as poverty reduction, global warming and regional crises.

"The main message is that there is a shared desire in China and Europe to take advantage of the coming period to make new progress in this relationship," Ambassador Ladsous said.

His speech was followed by a lively Q&A session in which mainly CEIBS students posed questions on: France’s role in facilitating the US-China relationship; the France-US relationship; the EU-Russian relationship within the context of a French Presidency; and the issue of sovereignty for EU member states.

The Ambassador’s address was the third in a series of talks planned under the EU-China BMT Project Lecture Series, part of the activities for the broader EU-China BMT Project which aims to raise awareness of the European Union in China and knowledge about the European Union as a political and economic entity.

Attendees during today’s event included:
- Consul General of Portugal Mr. João Maria Cabral
- Consul General of Romania Dr. Alexandru Grumaz
- Consul of Italy Marcella Zaccagnino
- Consul General of Poland Andrzej Lysiak
- Consul General of Belgium Mr. Marc Pecsteen
- Consul General of Greece Mr. Demetris Anninos
- Deputy Consul General of The Netherlands Mr. Leo Linscheer
- EU Chamber of Commerce Business Manager & Government Affairs Manager, Adele Wang
- President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, Annick  Dekermadec-Bentzmann
- Director and CEO of Societe Generale Equipment Finance, Mr. Christophe Granier
- A representative from the Consulate General of Russia and
- Chairman of Sinotel Ltd., Mr. Dominique de Boisseson.

The event was chaired by Director of Academia Sinica Europaea David Gosset, while CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhang Weijiong delivered the opening remarks.