Major European industrialists at the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron wants to convince them not to relocate

BIG START The French president wants to do everything to avoid the relocation outside Europe of large companies

Emmanuel Macron receives major European leaders to convince them not to relocate in this context of energy crisis. — JONATHAN NACKSTRAND AFP

Emmanuel Macron will try to be convincing. The Head of State must receive this Monday evening at dinner of major European industrialists to encourage them to stay in Europe and especially in France in the face of fears of a resurgence of relocations.

According to the Presidency, the French Head of State is receiving representatives of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), which claims among its members some sixty large companies on the continent such as Engie, Orange, Ericsson, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Volvo, BMW, Air Liquide or even Solvay.

The executive, which has made reindustrialization one of its economic priorities, indeed fears that energy inflation could push certain companies to withdraw. to think about; make their future investments outside Europe.

Being convincing in the face of the United States

Emmanuel Macron is concerned about the effects of the massive investment plan in the United States. United enacted this summer by President Joe Biden to combat climate change in particular.

This “ Inflation Reduction Act” is accused by some Europeans, and in particular France, to cause a distortion of competition with its tax credit for the purchase of an electric car built in an American factory with a battery manufactured locally.

With this in mind, Emmanuel Macron had already proposed at the beginning of November, industrialists who emit the most CO2 in France to double public aid to support their decarbonization, at the beginning of November. provided that they also redouble their efforts in this area.