France's term at the helm of the EU was quickly embroiled in domestic politics as President Emmanuel Macron’s rivals turned on him over the display of a giant European flag in Paris.
The blue-and-yellow banner was hung from the Arc de Triomphe, the capital’s most famous war memorial, to mark the start of France’s six-month EU presidency on New Year’s Day.
The move drew anger from politicians on the right who complained of a loss of French identity – a frequent accusation from Mr Macron’s rivals as April’s presidential election draws nearer.
It comes with Mr Macron tipped to use the EU presidency as a platform for his undeclared re-election campaign.
Valerie Pecresse, Mr Macron’s main challenger on the centre-right, told him to add a French flag to the Paris display in tribute to “our soldiers who spilled our blood for it”.
“Presiding over Europe – yes, erasing French identity – no,” she said.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, said the display showed an “arrogant contempt for our history” and called it an “attack on the identity of our country”.
Although she suggested that the French flag had been replaced with the EU colours, it is not the case that the national tricolour is permanently on display at the war memorial.
Eric Zemmour, a TV pundit and another far-right candidate who entered the race in November, described the installation as an insult.
By Sunday, the EU flag had been removed from the Arc de Triomphe, although European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune denied that this was done in response to the right-wing outcry.
Mr Beaune accused the president’s critics of “desperately chasing after sterile controversies of the far right”.
“We embrace Europe, but that doesn’t take anything away from our French identity,” he told France Inter radio.
The Eiffel Tower was similarly lit up in EU colours to mark the handover from Slovenia to France, which assumed the rotating presidency for the first time since 2008.
Mr Macron wants to use it to push for a “sovereign Europe” with action on carbon pricing, tech regulation, minimum wages and relations with Africa.
An advocate of more defence co-operation in Europe, he takes on the role with the bloc’s de facto leadership up for grabs after the retirement of long-dominant German chancellor Angela Merkel.
“Faced with health and economic challenges, the rise of aggressive powers and climate change, the best response is a European one,” Mr Macron said in a message to mark the start of the French presidency.
But his rivals on the right accuse him of overseeing national decline and ceding too much influence to the EU. Ms Le Pen described Mr Macron as nurturing a “fantasy of a super-state”.
Opponents have accused Mr Macron of electioneering and say he should have delayed France’s turn until after the two-round election in April.
Although Mr Macron is waiting until the last moment to formally declare his intentions, a string of media appearances and continuing fund-raising efforts by his party mean it is widely assumed that he will seek a second term.
Polls suggest he would be the favourite to beat any of his main rivals in the second round, although they predict a close race if Ms Pecresse reaches the run-off.
Manon Aubry, a leftist member of the European Parliament, said the row over the EU flag had obscured serious discussion about how the presidency was being “instrumentalised by Macron for electoral ends”.
“Macron does not give a hoot and is simply using it as a campaign vehicle,” she said.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am daily at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
New schools in Dubai
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
