Global Scans · France · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Discontent with political elites and country performance is driving the discourse and demand for action from the French public. With Presidential elections due in May 2017 it remains to be seen whether another political earthquake may happen in one of the EU's founding countries.

• [New] France's end-2032 on - and offshore totals are forecast at 3 4GW and 5.5GW, which would represent growth from the current estimated totals of 23.9 GW and 2GW. Windpower Monthly
• [New] French TSO, Reseau des Transport d' Electricite will increase investments significantly. ING Think
• [New] France's Plan B Rafale F5 with sovereign AI and a stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle wingman, is a pragmatic path to deliver Manned-Unmanned Teaming effects in the early 2030s without waiting for full FCAS resolution. Autonomy Global -
• [New] The Toulouse, France-based startup is developing its six-passenger BYA-1 hydrogen-electric CS23 light jet to enter service by 2030. Aerospace Testing International
• [New] The French government will provide credits covering up to 45% of equipment costs and 130 million euros for real-estate costs. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Trump threatens 200% tariff on French wine and champagne to pressure Macron into joining the US-led Gaza peace initiative. CNS Media
• [New] French educational institutions are expected increasingly to favor integrated systems for better data management, process efficiencies, and support for distant and hybrid learning. SkyQuest Technology Consulting
• [New] China, France, India, Russia and the United States will remain the center of gravity for global nuclear. ""
• [New] During the Ukraine war it has been very telling that in nearly all instances where media have reported Russian nuclear threats, officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and NATO have announced that they have detected no preparations to use nuclear weapons. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] French President Macron plans to activate the EU's anti-coercion tool in retaliation to the new U.S. tariffs starting at 10% in February and rising to 25% in June. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The next major opportunity for interference will be the 2027 presidential election in France, where President Emmanuel Macron will not run and the far-right RN will be the main contender. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] France will join Denmark's Operation Arctic Endurance in Greenland, deploying military elements at Denmark's request amid U.S.-Denmark tensions over ownership. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau warned that France risks entering a red zone for lenders if its 2026 budget deficit exceeds 5% of GDP, potentially raising borrowing costs amid political uncertainty. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The EU now has a ban on exports to non-OECD countries, and the French government plans to introduce a system that will reward producers that use domestically recycled post-consumer plastic in their packaging. Chemistry World
• [New] In France, the municipal elections will gauge Marine Le Pen's strength before the 2027 presidential elections. Ediciones EL PAIS S.L.
• [New] France has approved a fleet of 14 new reactors by 2050, while the UK is cutting red-tape to accelerate deployment of its first small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to reach 2 4GW by 2050. Financier Worldwide
• [New] As the eurozone's second-largest economy, fiscal slippage could undermine regional stability and ECB policies. / France GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The European Hydrogen Backbone initiative aims to develop tens of thousands of kilometers of hydrogen pipelines by 2030, connecting major production centers in the North Sea, Iberian Peninsula, and Eastern Europe with industrial demand hubs in Germany, France, and the Benelux region. EIN Presswire
• [New] France will ban cosmetic products containing PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, due to their persistence in the environment and links to serious health risks, including cancer and endocrine disruption. Sustainable Fashion - Eco Design - Healthy Lifestyle -
• [New] France's fiscal crisis is not an isolated event but a harbinger of broader risks for the eurozone. Ainvest
• [New] Survivability and effectiveness now depend on the speed of deployment, resistance to drones, and the ability to deliver firepower in conditions of constant air threat - noted representatives of the French army. UNN
• [New] French military pilots could soon fly deeper into low-visibility missions with Thales' new TopOwl DD helmet, which brings a digital display directly into combat operations. The Defense Post
• [New] According to a survey of more than 500 global institutional investors by Natixis Investment Managers, the asset management arm of the French bank, 74% predict markets will undergo a correction in 2026, with the risks of a geopolitical shock and a tech bubble being the top two concerns. KrASIA

Last updated: 28 January 2026