European leaders are meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to discuss the bloc’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, which is pitting the so-called frugal countries against those who want a bigger EU budget. France sits in neither camp.
Retailleau singled out structural funds — money that is invested in poorer European regions — as an area where savings could be made.
“We’ve given billions to countries so they would catch up with us. Well they have, and in a couple of years they’ll probably have a higher standard of living. Sorry, but stop,” he said.
However, Retailleau, who is trailing center-right presidential candidate Edouard Philippe and far-right front-runner Marine Le Pen in the polls, did not put a figure on the rebate he would demand if he came to power. Le Pen, who is the front-runner ahead of next year’s presidential election, and her party have proposed slashing France’s yearly contribution by €11.1 billion as early as next year.
Retailleau said he would seek “a negotiation,” rather than unilaterally impose a lower contribution, as Le Pen says she would do.
“I’m not going to behave like Marine Le Pen, I’m pro-European,” said Retailleau.
Retailleau argued that France’s defense and nuclear deterrence investments should also be included in the country’s contribution calculation, because the concept of forward deterrence benefits France’s European neighbors.