@cergrant.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social think-tank, believes the French want to exclude Britain from SAFE.

Looking back over our most read publications of 2025, @cergrant.bsky.social wrote in his March insight "#Trump’s words and actions are already creating tectonic shifts in #geopolitics." Read here: buff.ly/JTq5OJ5

Read @cergrant.bsky.social's paper here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE

Six of our researchers reflected on the EU's past year covering the green deal, the global impact of Trump's return, trade, China, Ukraine, @cergrant.bsky.social on the UK-EU reset, the far right & the EU's Middle East strategy in our end of year podcast. Listen here: buff.ly/rIGyp61

France has long wanted to see the emergence of ‘European champions’ in several industries. It has argued that EU competition policy has been too purist and prevented the emergence of such champions. 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cergrant.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/i8RsHEf

There is an ambivalence in #French attitudes to the #British, when it comes to defence, because France, pre-eminent in EU defence, does not want its leading role to be challenged. 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cergrant.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE

The French have always believed in tempering #freetrade with industrial policy, the protection of industry and the principle of préférence européenne. 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cergrant.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE

Nobody can doubt French influence in the EU. But, given the political weakness of France’s government, what explains it? Explores @cergrant.bsky.social in a new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight. 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 Read here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE

The mainstreaming and “embourgeoisement” of the 🇫🇷 far-right National Rally In 2017, 7% of those with a degree voted for the RN in the 1st round. By 2024, the figure was 22%—the same share that voted for Macron’s centrists. Even the gender gap has closed economist.com/briefing/202...

This is well worth a read.

Thank you to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for speaking at our @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social / @euinuk.bsky.social discussion on 'The future of Belarus in a peaceful Europe' in London yesterday, with @cergrant.bsky.social, Katia Glod and Pedro Serrano.

“Do people in Paris realise that actually the EU is still working in many respects for French interests? Or do they not notice that?” @cergrant.bsky.social asked @sophiepedder.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast episode. Listen here: buff.ly/ORqgrll

@cergrant.bsky.social, director of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social joined Patrick Gibbons on the @thespectator1828.bsky.social podcast to discuss the flurry of UK-European activity across Britain this week.

#France remains a force to be reckoned with in EU policy-making, in areas such as industrial and trade policy; defence policy; and relations with the UK. 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cergrant.bsky.social - read here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE

In my new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight, I explain how France manages to be extremely influential in the EU. www.cer.eu/insights/par...

#France has a very weak government with an uncertain future, yet it remains a dominant force in EU policy-making. How does one explain this paradox? 🇪🇺 🇫🇷 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cergrant.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/vrFwWbE