Macron’s win adds to worries of Poland and Hungary

WARSAW/BUDAPEST: The election of Emmanuel Macron as French president, with a vision of closer EU integration, was a relief to much of Europe, but for Poland and Hungary it exacerbated concerns over losing influence.

Poland has been the most vocal among eastern EU members fearing that their wealthier western neighbours, keen to deepen co-operation among themselves, will erode the single market – the biggest benefit of membership in the east – and, in shifting power westward, reduce financial support for less wealthy countries.

Macron’s arrival, and his support for the “multi-speed” Europe idea that has been gaining support in Germany and other EU countries since Britain’s decision to quit the bloc, make it more likely a key decision-making circle could exclude the former communist capitals of Budapest and Warsaw. It would also thwart their efforts to shift power from Brussels back to member states. Polish officials have accused Macron of contravening the spirit of the single market by calling for reforms of rules on moving workers within the bloc.

A decision by Whirlpool to shift a tumble drier factory from France to Poland took centre stage in France’s recent presidential campaign, with Macron’s far-right opponent Marine Le Pen saying she would nationalise the plant.

Macron refused to be drawn into promising the workers he would prevent the company moving its production.

But he did say Warsaw was exploiting differences in labour costs, which could not be tolerated. He alluded to the problem of social dumping, which refers to companies employing cheaper labour from other EU countries.