It is a strictly economic study, to which the macronists hastened to give a political significance, with the approach of the presidential election of 2022. For the second consecutive year, France remains the most attractive country in Europe. for investors, according to an annual barometer published Monday, June 7 by the firm Ernst & Young (EY). Despite a greater drop than elsewhere in the number of projects in 2020, against the backdrop of the crisis due to Covid-19, France managed to attract 985 foreign direct investments last year, against 975 in the United Kingdom and 930 in Germany.
Investors surveyed by EY believe that France has “Relatively well defended its attractiveness” during the health crisis, “In particular thanks to support measures” to sectors in difficulty “And the recovery plan”, in the amount of 100 billion euros, announced in September. Even if criticisms are being heard among business leaders about the slowness of the deployment of this plan, nearly half of investors find it more efficient than in other European countries.
Nearly ten months before the presidential election, Emmanuel Macron and his followers did not fail to highlight this performance, which validates, according to them, the economic and fiscal strategy of the Head of State since his accession to the Elysee Palace. . On Twitter, the President of the Republic greeted Monday “Excellent news”, considering that this attractiveness has “Concrete repercussions”, with the creation of “More than 30,000 jobs”, through the projects announced in 2020, and “More relocations, especially in industry”.
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“This ranking validates the fact that since 2017, there have been significant efforts made in the economic field”, in order to “Acquire all the tools capable of maintaining a high level of attractiveness and competitiveness in France”, argues an adviser at the Elysee. Mr. Macron’s entourage recalls in particular that before the onset of the health crisis, in March 2020, the unemployment rate had risen again “Under 8%”. “France is acting, it is not a wait-and-see”, continues this source, boasting that the action of the executive has also “Long-term effects”, especially in terms of “Industrial sovereignty”.
In the government, several ministers also attributed these results to the presidential action. The Secretary of State for the digital economy, Cédric O, saw it “Without a doubt possible” the fruit “Tax reforms, which were carried out from 2017 to 2020, in particular that of the labor market”, he said Monday on Franceinfo. The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, quoted for his part “Corporate and capital tax cuts” at the start of the five-year term, and since this year, “The reduction in production taxes”, amounting to 20 billion euros.
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