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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/11/francois-hollande-renewal-european-project-trip-brexit-france
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| François Hollande to push for renewal of EU project on five-state trip | François Hollande to push for renewal of EU project on five-state trip |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The French president, François Hollande, will visit five EU countries next week to underline his tough stance on Brexit and to argue that the remaining 27 member states should strengthen ties. | The French president, François Hollande, will visit five EU countries next week to underline his tough stance on Brexit and to argue that the remaining 27 member states should strengthen ties. |
| Hollande will visit Portugal on 19 July, then Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, before finishing in Ireland on 21 July. His office said the trip was designed to give new impetus to the European project. | Hollande will visit Portugal on 19 July, then Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, before finishing in Ireland on 21 July. His office said the trip was designed to give new impetus to the European project. |
| Hollande deeply regretted Britain’s vote for Brexit, but is also the European leader who is most fiercely urging the UK to act quickly and launch the process to leave the EU as swiftly as possible. He has insisted Brexit cannot be cancelled or delayed and that Britain will have to live with the consequences. | Hollande deeply regretted Britain’s vote for Brexit, but is also the European leader who is most fiercely urging the UK to act quickly and launch the process to leave the EU as swiftly as possible. He has insisted Brexit cannot be cancelled or delayed and that Britain will have to live with the consequences. |
| Hollande has urged European partners to use Britain’s exit as a “wake-up call” to move forward on Europe. His ideas include a deeper cooperation in areas such as security and defence, but in Paris there is also a feeling that the public must be given more of a sense that Europe can act on key issues such as unemployment and inequality. He also wants the EU to be better at fostering growth, although he has not yet spelt out how. | Hollande has urged European partners to use Britain’s exit as a “wake-up call” to move forward on Europe. His ideas include a deeper cooperation in areas such as security and defence, but in Paris there is also a feeling that the public must be given more of a sense that Europe can act on key issues such as unemployment and inequality. He also wants the EU to be better at fostering growth, although he has not yet spelt out how. |
| Hollande is having to move fast in order to influence any process of renewal in Europe. The Socialist leader is unpopular at home and next spring’s presidential election is looming. Even if he decides to run for re-election, he is currently faring badly in polls. | Hollande is having to move fast in order to influence any process of renewal in Europe. The Socialist leader is unpopular at home and next spring’s presidential election is looming. Even if he decides to run for re-election, he is currently faring badly in polls. |
| At a European summit in Bratislava in September, Hollande is intending, with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to rally European leaders around a plan to reorientate Europe and renew the trust of voters. | At a European summit in Bratislava in September, Hollande is intending, with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to rally European leaders around a plan to reorientate Europe and renew the trust of voters. |
| Hollande knows that in the run-up to the summit he has to garner broader support if the Brexit crisis is to be turned into an opportunity to bolster the European project. His trip to Portugal – which has a Socialist-led government with backing from other leftwing parties – follows talks with Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, as part of France’s drive to get backing from southern European countries. | Hollande knows that in the run-up to the summit he has to garner broader support if the Brexit crisis is to be turned into an opportunity to bolster the European project. His trip to Portugal – which has a Socialist-led government with backing from other leftwing parties – follows talks with Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, as part of France’s drive to get backing from southern European countries. |
| Ireland, with massive economic links to the UK and facing crucial questions over Northern Ireland, is seen as an important partner as it is the European country that would be most directly affected by Brexit. | Ireland, with massive economic links to the UK and facing crucial questions over Northern Ireland, is seen as an important partner as it is the European country that would be most directly affected by Brexit. |