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] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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)
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• The claim of responsibility for the (Moscow) attack by a branch of Islamic State that planned attacks in European countries including France prompted us to increase the Vigipirate (security threat assessmment) to its highest level. www.euractiv.com
• Officials in NATO's Western European members, including France, have been too eager to appease the Kremlin and failed to wake up to an existential threat. Al Jazeera
• France's terror alert system has three levels, and the highest level is activated in the wake of an attack in France or abroad or when a threat of one is considered to be imminent. The Times of Israel
• France will work with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to convince Russia and China to back a resolution at the United Nations for a ceasefire in Gaza after the two big powers blocked a text by the United States. The Times of Israel
• Over 50% will go to offshore wind projects in the US, UK, France and Germany. Energy Global
• Soldiers would project the sound of tanks on the nights that they moved through villages in France, Belgium and Germany. NPR
• Key soy-producing nations including France and Germany are expected to witness an expansion in soy growing areas. FeedNavigator.com
• Several countries, including France, have stated that they will ramp up joint efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Soufan Center

Last updated: 10 April 2024