Patrick Martin (Medef) offers Gabriel Attal three quantified avenues for reform

“Unquestionably, France is doing better” economically thanks to the reforms undertaken since 2017, estimates Mr. Martin in this seven-page letter seen Tuesday by AFP.

But he also underlines the "concern" of economic players about the widening public deficit or the trade balance deficit: "the country's recovery is underway but it is far from being completed", he summarizes.

Medef therefore proposes "to increase the employment rate by eight points to reach full employment" and thus reach the level of Germany, "which would ensure France an increase in its GDP of almost 10 points" and a gain in tax and social revenue “of more than 100 billion euros per year”.

He observes in particular "the human drama" of "13% of young people aged 15 to 29 who are neither in employment, nor in studies, nor in training, and advocates "amplifying reforms" in education, and "bring the company fully into the +battle for direction+ decreed by the President of the Republic", with the establishment of "a path to success" via companies.

Second objective, "to provide one million jobs for researchers, engineers and scientists and bring Research and Development (R&D) to 3% of GDP", while France is currently at 2,2% of GDP for these expenses, the OECD average at 2,7% and Germany at 3,3%, according to the data that the president of Medef sets out in his letter.

“Full support”

According to him, we must "provide Europe with a real innovation agency", like Darpa, the R&D agency of the American Department of Defense, "democratize" - particularly in favor of women and people from modest backgrounds - and "normalize" access to training and careers "in science, innovation and entrepreneurship".

The third objective described by Mr. Martin is to “reduce our carbon footprint twice as quickly, or 100 million tonnes of CO2 less” per year.

According to him, we must achieve “a climate revolution in public policies” including “whatever the cost of simplification” and a “Green Investment Pact”.

Questioned also Tuesday on France-Inter on the possible government project, put forward by Les Echos, to increase the threshold for unemployment compensation to 8 months worked in the last 20 months, instead of 6 months in the last 24 months currently , Mr. Martin judged that this “would generate significant savings”, but that we would have to “be careful” to ensure that young people were not “penalized”.

He also described the RN's economic and social program as "vague to say the least" and seeming "to be the same as for the presidential elections": "anti-European and resulting in a massive increase in compulsory deductions".

He called for the establishment in New Caledonia of "partial unemployment schemes" after the riots of recent days and asked "that we not lose interest in nickel and economic activity" on the island.

Finally, questioned about the company internship for second-year students, which Medef supports but for which very few companies are still candidates, Mr. Martin assured "that we will get there", but that we must "give ourselves a little time".