For Emmanuel Macron, the formal launch of the French presidency of the EU on Friday was an opportunity like no other presented during his tenure as his country's head of state.
From the outset, Mr Macron is showing his keen sense of mission to remould the 27-member bloc along an agenda set in Paris. But the result has, so far, been an unusual degree of resistance from an untypical quarter. The Germans have pushed back hard against at least a part of his programme.
It is the French leader’s character not to back down. His forceful, not to say abrasive, style is likely to shake things up over the coming weeks.
Energy is a top priority for the French presidency, and Mr Macron wants to put nuclear energy at the heart of the bloc’s so-called Green Deal. Given this Green Deal is the most important and far-reaching policy platform promoted by Brussels – the EU's administrative centre – since the internal market reforms three decades ago, Mr Macron’s move is a very consequential initiative.
Making nuclear energy part of the EU mainstream would almost certainly open access to French technology in this sphere for the other 26 member states. It is, however, a development that is bitterly resisted by the Green parties around Europe, several of which are in coalition governments. The most important of these is the new German administration. As Europe's ministers gathered in Paris to participate in the French launch, Berlin’s representative said the two sides would agree to disagree.
Focusing on a more positive agenda would certainly suit Mr Macron.
Not only will his time in the hot seat coincide with the biggest energy crunch forecast in a decade this winter, Europe is also troubled by its unquiet border with Ukraine. Energy prices are on the rise. Not only will this situation get worse during the colder weeks ahead, it also feeds into the security tensions.
Russia’s supplies of gas westwards are not all that they might be. Germany has taken three nuclear reactors offline for its own political reasons. The Kremlin wants approval of its very expensive new gas pipeline to Germany. It has not been shy about using its leverage over supplies to do so. Stores of reserves of the key fuel are very low.
One of Mr Macron’s themes is the need to bolster Europe’s strategic autonomy.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, a key lieutenant of Mr Macron, complained on Friday that the Russians were determined to bypass the Europeans and deal solely with the US on the tensions over Ukraine. Talks between the US and Russia open in Geneva on Monday. Questions will be asked about what kind of grand bargain Washington and Moscow would be willing to strike.
For the French and other Europeans, the frustration at not being at the table is a palpable disappointment at the start of 2022. Mr Le Drian said a restoration of zones of influence looked to be on the cards and that this was not acceptable. The French official echoed other European warnings that the era of Yalta-style carve-ups had been consigned to the past. It was not feasible to sit at a table as two powerful nations are about to decide the fate of others.
In a sign of shared priorities, the Germans have said Mr Macron’s ideas on strategic autonomy in security must be furthered during the presidency. But time is vanishingly short for the French leader. He is facing a re-election campaign in April that could drag into May. Although not yet declared a candidate, Mr Macron’s fight to hang on to the Elysee Palace is already informing his every political move.
The leadership of the EU is a chance to showcase his strengths. If investment is mobilised through the Green Deal, that would no doubt help his image as a dynamic leader building for the future.
Macron's predisposition is to lead from the front, but Europe is wedded to the collegiate approach
Leadership on climate, which is the third area where Germany has promised support, is likely to be more problematic. The lurking danger of the Yellow Vests movement, which mobilised millions against fuel taxes in the early years of his presidency, is also considerable. The French government has already sent out cheques to households to pay part of their fuel bills.
Juggling these pressures will be quite a challenge for Mr Macron. While his predisposition is to lead from the front, the problem is that Europe is wedded to the collegiate approach to building the union.
Some of the bigger-picture strategies is unlikely to get any attention at all. With the shadow of Russia falling on the Europeans, there is a desperate need to rebuild security relationships with the British. London is still the biggest military power in the European space. It is happy to reinforce messaging to Russia alongside the EU, but the Brexit process has cut close co-operation.
The French instinct to build a European defence capability is a good one, but not at the cost of Nato’s pre-eminent role. The time for that is not right – whatever the energy and passion Mr Macron is bringing to the table.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
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Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
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What is a portfolio stress test?
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What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
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How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
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Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Company%20profile
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Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
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