Global Scans · France · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Discontent with political elites and country performance is driving the discourse and demand for action from the French public. With Presidential elections due in May 2017 it remains to be seen whether another political earthquake may happen in one of the EU's founding countries.

• [New] The policies of the United States - the NATO Ally with the largest nuclear arsenal - regarding the use of AI in nuclear defence systems will likely set the tone for the other nuclear capable NATO member states, France and the United Kingdom. NATO Review
• [New] By 2040, the collective GDP of the BRICs would overtake that of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] In 2025, Sonatrach will deliver two million tonnes of LNG to TotalEnergies at the port of Fos-Cavaou, near Marseille, which will contribute to the security of energy supply in France and Europe. MarketScreener
• [New] The once potentially groundbreaking alliance has not entirely disappeared: Renault still makes a small van for Mercedes and will make the new Micra electric vehicle (EV) for Nissan in France, but elsewhere it is much reduced. Automotive World
• [New] The French president's posture is shaped by a sense of urgency over a rapidly deteriorating situation in Ukraine, which could prove to be an existential threat to Europe. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] In 2023, in Mexico, taxi driver unions, with 12,000 members, accused Uber of unfair competition, while, in France, around 2480 taxi drivers initiated another legal battle against Uber, alleging unfair competition and seeking substantial damages totaling around 455 million euros. MDPI
• [New] Previous terrorist attacks in France, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom have highlighted the danger posed by jihadist cells capable of operating covertly. SpecialEurasia
• [New] Germany, France and Italy, the three largest economies in the monetary union, have all entered into economic recession, with Eurostat recording an even bigger drop in gross national product (GDP) compared to what markets expected. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The UK updates final Q4 GDP while preliminary March inflation readings out of France and Italy will give an early sense of price trends in the eurozone. IHS markit
• Speculation existed that France and Russia might assist Spain's efforts at reconquest, and also that Spain might transfer Cuba to Britain. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History
• The U.S. and UK should lead a coalition of the willing with key EU member states such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands, signaling their readiness to respond to security threats from Belgrade and Moscow. The Telegraph
• The dramatic reduction in available data center space and power in the highly developed data center countries (UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, etc.) will lead more and more investors to turn to secondary markets. The Fintech Times
• Governments have been ordered to increase or update their emissions reduction efforts (e.g. Netherlands, Germany and recently Belgium), to clarify their climate plans (e.g. Ireland and United Kingdom), and to implement their existing targets (e.g. France). Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
• On the election dates, the highest numbers of eligible voters are expected in Germany (64.9 million people), France (49.7 million) and Italy (47 million). The Sofia Globe
• The highest shares of first-time voters are expected in Belgium, France and Germany with 9.7%, 8% and 7.9% of all eligible voters, respectively. The Sofia Globe
• Any setbacks for French nuclear output could have regional consequences, and undermine all of Europe's efforts to transition energy systems away from dirtier fuels. MarketScreener
• France and Germany followed suit with similar in-ward looking policy and the EU itself imposed restrictions on the exportation of PPEs, putting many hitherto dependent countries at risk. PubMed Central (PMC)
• France will provide a new batch of Aster 30 missiles to Ukraine for the SAMP/T MAMBA air defence systems and that France is developing remotely operated munitions to provide to Ukraine as early as summer 2024. Critical Threats
• Important cement production countries (France, Spain and the United Kingdom) present higher risks of potential trade-offs, indicating that mitigation measures must include active plans to prevent the occurrence of unintended side effects. Nature
• We do not expect the recent uptick in CWE power prices to be sustainable given we are exiting winter with gas storage levels around 60% capacity, solar growth is leading to sharp spot price declines, hydro balances are at a surplus and French nuclear output has improved. MarketScreener
• In renewables, Iberdrola plans to invest EUR 15.5 billion gross in the coming years, of which more than half will focus on offshore wind in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, totalling 3,000 MW. MarketScreener
• France is pushing defence companies to ramp up production to meet the needs of its own army and to ensure continued support to Ukraine after Kiev warned its stocks of munitions are running low. The Guardian

Last updated: 17 April 2024