French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election, outlined a series of proposals in Brussels on Monday aimed at curtailing the European Union's influence and redirecting France's financial commitments. Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with leaders of Patriots for Europe, the far-right group her party belongs to, Le Pen declared her intention to challenge the EU’s powers if elected president next May.
The National Rally leader asserted that the European Commission should cease involvement in policy areas she deems outside its jurisdiction, specifically mentioning health, security, and international diplomacy. She likened the Commission to "the frog in the fable that puffs itself up to be as big as the ox," referencing La Fontaine’s fable.
Among her key financial proposals, Le Pen called for France's net contribution to the EU budget to be capped at €5 billion annually. This represents a significant reduction from the current level of approximately €8 billion, according to figures published by the French Senate. Despite these proposed cuts, Le Pen stated, "Being pro-France does not mean being anti-Europe," as she presented several ideas for EU-wide action.
These included advocating for a "real" carbon border tax on imports from countries with weaker environmental standards, though she suggested exemptions for products such as fertilisers and coffee that Europe does not produce. She also proposed harmonised taxes on tobacco and alcohol, alongside a common EU corporate tax for large companies, with a single rate set between 20% and 25%. Le Pen indicated that these measures would alleviate the financial burden on French taxpayers. Last week, she unveiled a broader plan to save €140 billion over five years, aiming to reduce France’s public deficit below 3% of GDP by 2030.
In February, EU countries collectively agreed to a €90 billion loan to cover Ukraine’s budgetary and military needs, with a first tranche of €45 billion scheduled for next year. However, Ukraine's Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko has warned that the country requires an additional €70 billion in funding.
Le Pen also diverged from the broader EU consensus on increasing pressure on Russia to end the war. As the European Commission prepares its 22nd package of sanctions, Le Pen claimed that existing restrictions have been more detrimental to European economies than to Russia. "We were right to say that sanctions would have had no impact on Russia and would have increased the price of the raw materials they sell," she asserted, arguing that EU countries have continued to purchase Russian oil and gas, thereby enriching Moscow.
