“The far right has not yet derailed European integration”, but that could change if it governs in France, warns former Delors advisor
Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) between 2005 and 2013, Pascal Lamy was in Lisbon this week to participate in the panel ‘Thinking about the Future of the European Union in the Light of Jacques’ Legacy Delors’, part of the conference ‘Jacques Delors Agora – The Next Generation in Europe’, organized by the Jacques Delors Institute, which brought together 130 young people from 30 countries in the Portuguese capital, as well as members of the Commission, MEPs and experts in European politics.
The former European Trade Commissioner, a position he held between 1999 and 2004, and current vice-president of the think tank Europe Jacques Delors also came to present the Manifesto for a European Pact for the Oceans. The document aims to “advance a comprehensive oceans agenda for the next European Commission, which recognizes the intrinsic link between the well-being of our societies, the competitiveness of our economies and health of our oceans and waters†.
The interview with Expresso was given just a few days before the second round of early legislative elections in his country. The Reagrupamento Nacional (RN, former National Front, far-right) was the party with the most votes in the first round, with 33%, ahead of the left-wing coalition Nova Frente Popular (28.5%) and of the centrists Together for the Republic, who is part of the party of the French President, Emmanuel Macron (22%).
