Speaking to L’Express, the researcher at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies – a Brussels-based think tank affiliated with the centre-right European People’s Party – explains the reasons for his concern, while also praising France’s skilful diplomacy, which should bring two or three billion euros to France, to the detriment of Ireland’s historic relationship with the United Kingdom. Moreover, however, Eoin Drea maintains that Europe is now very worried about France’s economic inertia, particularly when it comes to pensions, at a time when this should be “its moment”, given its dealings with the United States under Donald Trump’s leadership.