Latest news with #EntenteCordiale
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Agroforestry can transform rural futures
Our research paper, 'Agroforestry: the green guardian', developed as part of the 2024-25 Entente Cordiale Day Challenge held at the London School of Economics, explores how this practice can be scaled to support farmer livelihoods, sequester carbon, and regenerate ecosystems across India. Agroforestry presents a significant opportunity to protect biodiversity while contributing to climate change mitigation. It creates stable habitats for birds, pollinators, and soil organisms, while also lowering local temperatures by about one degree Celsius. In India, agroforestry could remove around 68 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. Currently, India has approximately 13.75 million hectares under agroforestry, but this represents only a small fraction of its potential. Agroforestry can diversify farmer income through fruit trees, timber species, and medicinal plants, while also improving soil health, water retention, and climate resilience. However, several challenges persist. Regulatory restrictions on tree harvesting and trade pose significant challenges to agroforestry implementation. As of 2023, only 33 tree species are legally permitted for free harvesting and transportation between States, limiting farmers' ability to select species freely. High-value species such as teak and sandalwood require government permits, creating bureaucratic barriers that discourage farmers from cultivating them. Another major issue is the lack of information. Many farmers do not know which species combinations are best suited to their land or how to participate in carbon markets. Though digital tools and government incentives exist, they are often out of reach for farmers due to language, literacy, or connectivity barriers. To bridge these gaps, I have begun developing AgroConnect, a prototype digital platform designed to turn policy insights into practical support for farmers. AgroConnect aims to be a one-stop ecosystem where small and marginal farmers can make informed decisions about agroforestry and access economic incentives. Our research also examined Cameroon, where agroforestry is widely practised, though mostly informally. Local farmers have long used diverse agroforestry practices to sustain their livelihoods and protect biodiversity. However, the lack of technical support and market access has limited the impact of these practices. These insights from Cameroon reveal a shared challenge: in both countries, agroforestry's potential is not constrained by land or people, but by the systems meant to support them. This project was part of the Entente Cordiale Day Challenge 2025, a prestigious Franco-British competition held under the high patronage of President Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III. Rooted in the 120-year-old Entente Cordiale alliance, this initiative fosters collaboration between leaders of France and the U.K. Representing France, I collaborated with peers from Cameroon and France to develop this interdisciplinary proposal on the theme 'Climate change, biodiversity, and developing countries'. We came first in France and were awarded the Prix Président Loubet (President Loubet Award), the highest honour. We presented our work at the London School of Economics, and engaged in discussions at the U.K. House of Commons and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. We had the honour of presenting our solution to Salaheddine Mezouar, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco and President of COP22. Our team has also been invited to present at the Élysée Palace (the official residence of the President of France) and at the U.K. House of Lords, and I am proud to share that our research paper has been officially published by the Entente Cordiale Association, further recognising its impact and feasibility. India's farmers stand at the forefront of both climate vulnerability and ecological opportunity. Agroforestry offers them a way to contribute to climate resilience while improving their long-term financial stability. However, to scale adoption, it must be supported by the right mix of policy, technology, and trust. By investing in inclusive and scalable models, we can ensure that India's path to a greener future is not only achievable, but is already underway.
Arab News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Franco-British recognition could usher in a new era for Palestine
This should have happened decades ago. It may still not happen. It should be a plain and simple, uncontroversial decision. It is not. Yet the words of President Emmanuel Macron of France have triggered a scintilla of hope that a major power will join the 147 states to have recognized the state of Palestine. 'We must move toward recognition and we will do so in the coming months,' Macron said this month. But France must not be an isolated actor in this. It cannot be a Macron-only declaration. Is it too much to think that others might join him? Above all, one power — the UK — should follow Macron's lead and give new force to a renewed Entente Cordiale. Imagine a Franco-British recognition of Palestine. Symbolically, it would be huge. Marcon and Prime Minister Keir Starmer standing together — the leaders of the two major European colonial states, the ones that so brutally and imperially carved up the Middle East more than a century ago. The Sykes-Picot powers — with one, Britain, also being the author of the infamous Balfour Declaration — could start to remedy a small part of the damage that was perpetrated in cigar-filled rooms all those years ago. It would leave the US as the only permanent member of the UN Security Council not to recognize the state of Palestine. It would encourage the remaining European and other powers to join in. How long, for example, would Germany, Italy and the Netherlands want to be isolated? Could Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand follow suit? Momentum would be crucial. The Sykes-Picot powers could start to remedy a small part of the damage that was perpetrated all those years ago Chris Doyle The text of any recognition would matter. It should recognize Palestine on the 1967 lines with immediate effect. No doubt they would state that, if Palestine and Israel were to agree new borders, then this would be altered accordingly. One issue would be embassies. The Palestinian leadership would want an embassy in Jerusalem, just as Israel wants these states to shift their diplomatic presence from Tel Aviv to the city. Perhaps, given the situation, embassies will be set up temporarily in Ramallah while keeping consulates in Jerusalem. The long-term European political position has always been not to recognize any state's sovereignty over any part of the city. None of this is to suggest at all that this would resolve the conflict or bring the genocide and system of apartheid to an end. Recognition should not even be the priority, which right now must be to end the complete siege of Gaza that was imposed more than 50 days ago and to bring an end to the bombing frenzy the Israeli forces carry out every single day. Recognition will mean little if those processes are not terminated with immediate effect. France says that recognition will be conditional on the release of hostages in Gaza and Hamas no longer being in charge of the Strip. But all this does is give Hamas additional motivation not to adhere to either demand, as it opposes a two-state solution. But while dealing with the ongoing emergency, the medium to long-term outlook still matters. This is why Macron's summit with Saudi Arabia in June is so important. The visit of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to Saudi Arabia last week brought this into sharp focus. The pre-summit diplomacy and legwork is typically even more vital than the event itself. If external parties are serious about a solution, then this reinforces their preferred option: the two-state solution. Apart from the US, pretty much every state has backed this template to resolve the conflict, but too many have so far only recognized one state — Israel. If external parties are serious about a solution, then this reinforces their preferred option: the two-state solution Chris Doyle Many Palestinians no longer see the two-state solution as viable given the massive illegal Israeli colonial settlement enterprise. So, recognition needs to not rule out any consideration of other long-term solutions, including a one-state option, a federal or a binational state, but it would at least allow a state of Palestine to negotiate as a state and be respected as such. Israel will expect further recognition of its statehood from regional powers. But it should have to end its occupation and accept a state of Palestine. That is the bare minimum, essentially the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002: a full withdrawal in return for a full peace. Fresh recognitions of Palestine serve to strengthen international backing for the Palestinian right to self-determination and confirm that, as a people, they have national rights. It would end the nauseating disputes as to whether Palestine should be treated as a state in international bodies. Anti-Palestinian groups still argue, with no merit, that such agencies cannot have jurisdiction as Palestine is not a state. Many might see France and Britain as hangovers from a bygone era. Yet such a joint move, right now, would show that these two powers still retain some weight in international affairs. They can shift trends in the right direction, not least when the US is more of an obstacle than a facilitator. But if Europe wishes to be taken seriously, this should be a full Europe-wide recognition. The continent can show it is just as prepared to adapt its position on the Middle East as it is on Russia-Ukraine.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starmer and Macron are forming a new bromance
It was the most public signal that the Entente Cordiale is back. A brotherly hug, a 13-second handshake and warm pats on the back between Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. Together, they strode into a Lancaster House summit about securing the future of Ukraine, advocating for a 'coalition of the willing' of countries who would join them. In the era of uncertainty – Trump 2.0, Putin 5.0, Gaza, China, the cost of living, and more – Britain and France are the closest they have been in more than a decade. The rapprochement marks quite a stunning turnaround less than three years after Liz Truss said she could not decide whether Mr Macron was a 'friend or foe'. Boris Johnson, her predecessor, mocked French diplomatic protest at AUKUS, a submarine deal that cut out France, by exclaiming 'prenez un grip' and 'donnez-moi un break!' At one point, France threatened to cut energy supplies to the UK and Jersey amid a bitter row over access to Britain's fishing waters. Diplomats say Sir Keir and Mr Macron have been driven together by dual threats of Donald Trump and Russia. But insiders who have observed the two up close say there is a true chemistry between the pair, despite their obvious differences. Indeed, sources in Paris suggest it is more than a marriage of convenience, with one close to Mr Macron saying the French president thinks of his counterpart as a 'decent guy' he can trust to do serious business with. But warming relations also have a limit, others warn, as Sir Keir angles to bring Britain closer to the European Union. Sir Keir, 62, was a human rights lawyer and then a public prosecutor. He has never worked in Europe and does not speak any foreign languages. With at least four more years in power, he has time to settle into the role and strategise long term. He fiercely guards his private life, not even making public the names of his teenage son and daughter. Mr Macron, 47, was an investment banker at Rothschild who earned €2.9 million in just four years. In addition to French, he speaks English and German. After calling a disastrous election, which ended in a hung parliament, he will leave office in 2027. He married his drama teacher, Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior – and their relationship has been plastered across serious publications and gossip sites the world over. But the men also have a surprising amount in common. Both are technocratic moderates who hail from the centre-Left, both are keen football players and supporters, of Arsenal and Olympique de Marseille respectively, and both play the piano. They first met when Mr Macron broke with protocol to invite Sir Keir to the Elysée in 2023 as opposition leader, telling aides he had the 'moral authority' to lead the UK. No such invitation was sent to Jeremy Corbyn or Ed Miliband while they were in the same role. Mr Macron was given an Arsenal shirt while Sir Keir walked away with Elysée cufflinks. 'It went well because they're both technocrats and men who know their dossiers,' said Michel Duclos, a former French diplomat who is a special adviser on geopolitics and diplomacy at the Montaigne Institute in Paris and who played a 'small role' in that meeting. Sir Keir said the meeting was 'constructive and positive', adding: 'It was my first opportunity to say how much I value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security and how, if we are privileged enough to be elected into power, intend to build on that relationship and make it even stronger than it is today.' The relationship received another boost when Rishi Sunak, the then prime minister, left the international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day early to give a TV interview. Sir Keir, who wasn't originally on the invite list, stayed all day and Labour later blasted the Conservative incumbent's 'dereliction of duty'. It was there he also met Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. Mr Macron broke protocol again when he reached out to Sir Keir to congratulate him on election night before he had officially won. The French president was the first world leader to make contact, and the pair spoke again the following day once Sir Keir had entered Downing Street. The new Prime Minister then impressed his counterpart as he hosted the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Blenheim Palace later that month. The EPC was the brainchild of Mr Macron, who oversaw its first meeting in Prague in 2022. He designed the gathering as an informal platform to discuss shared concerns beyond the confines of the EU, mainly regarding Ukraine. It was here that Sir Keir said he sensed a 'real appetite' for a reset in relations between the UK, calling for a 'mature' approach to contentious issues such as small boats, trade and fishing. Last November Mr Macron invited Sir Keir to attend Armistice Day commemorations in Paris, the first British prime minister to do so since Winston Churchill. Sir Keir returned the favour in January, inviting Mr Macron to Chequers in January. There, he gave a guided tour of his official country residence in Buckinghamshire, pointing out a chair belonging to Churchill, complete with cigar burns left by Britain's war-time prime minister. And then Mr Trump took power and started charging towards a peace deal in Ukraine, leaving Europe in his wake. Sir Peter Ricketts, the former British ambassador to Paris, told The Telegraph: 'Ukraine has pushed the UK and France together as the two leading European military powers after all and then it's just been turbocharged by the chaos of the first Trump six weeks, which has pushed Macron and Starmer into a real leadership role.' Together, they have come up with an Anglo-French plan for peacekeeping troops to enforce and monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine once the war is over. Europe's only nuclear powers are leading the so-called 'coalition of the willing'. 'I think they've developed a pretty effective duo,' Sir Peter continued, 'because they bring different things. Macron brings a lot of experience to this international stuff, deep relationships with many of the actors. And Starmer brings political stability, which Macron doesn't have'. 'Macron has experience and agility; Starmer has longevity and staying power.' Both had meetings with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. Mr Macron was stronger in challenging the US president, but it was Sir Keir who came away with a tangible result – no direct tariffs on the UK and approval on the Chagos deal. Mr Macron himself has summed up his proximity to Sir Keir in three ways, said a source who asked the French president about their relationship. 'First, Starmer isn't a Brexiteer, so from the outset, he was favourable on principle; second, he saw him as a 'decent guy' you could do business with, and thirdly, you can't do defence and security without the British, or the UN Security Council. And both are nuclear powers. The first two points are new.' Sir Kim Darroch, Britain's former ambassador to the US, said: 'No British prime minister would ever want publicly to side with Europe against America – unless something extraordinary happens. The line will always be that both relationships are essential. But if you look at the current reality the British and French are working exceptionally closely together on Ukraine, and rightly so as the two leading military powers in Europe.' 'There does appear to be a perception in Europe that, whatever the British public line, Starmer is moving the UK closer to Europe,' said Sir Kim. Mr Duclos concurred, saying that Starmer's decision last month to offer to send troops to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in case of a ceasefire formed the 'basis of the new Entente Cordiale'. 'One product of the Ukraine crisis is that, despite the UK having left the EU, Starmer has taken on a leadership role in Europe, alongside Macron, and with Germany having only a caretaker government,' said Sir Kim. It may not all be plain sailing though. Despite their bonhomie, Franco-British sticking points remain, notably on defence industry co-operation. It emerged last month that Sir Keir's plan to agree a security pact with the EU was being blocked, notably by the French, and there will be no progress on security until he makes concessions on fishing and mobility for young Europeans.'The French have traditionally been very wary about co-operating because they probably feel that the British defence industry is stronger,' said Sir Peter.'The French hide behind the EU rules that say the UK is a third country, and therefore can't be part of the EU defence industry projects and programmes. I hope that the current crisis might be able to sweep some of those restrictions away to let the defence industry work together,' he added. 'Just because they're getting on well, it doesn't mean they're going to suddenly let Britain have an easy ride with respect to its Brexit obligations,' said a source close to Mr Macron. 'That is the caveat.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
18-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Starmer and Macron are forming a new bromance
It was the most public signal that the Entente Cordiale is back. A brotherly hug, a 13-second handshake and warm pats on the back between Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. Together, they strode into a Lancaster House summit about securing the future of Ukraine, advocating for a ' coalition of the willing ' of countries who would join them. In the era of uncertainty – Trump 2.0, Putin 5.0, Gaza, China, the cost of living, and more – Britain and France are the closest they have been in more than a decade. The rapprochement marks quite a stunning turnaround less than three years after Liz Truss said that she could not decide whether Mr Macron was a ' friend or foe '. Boris Johnson, her predecessor, mocked French diplomatic protest at AUKUS, a submarine deal that cut out France, by exclaiming 'prenez un grip' and 'donnez-moi un break'. At one point, France threatened to cut energy supplies to the UK and Jersey amid a bitter row over access to Britain's fishing waters. Diplomats say that Sir Keir and Mr Macron have been driven together by dual threats of Donald Trump and Russia. But insiders who have observed the pair up close say that there is a true chemistry between them, despite their obvious differences. Indeed, sources in Paris suggest that it is more than a marriage of convenience, with one close to Mr Macron saying the French president thinks of his counterpart as a 'decent guy' he can trust to do serious business with. But warming relations also have a limit, others warn, as Sir Keir angles to bring Britain closer to the European Union. Sir Keir, 62, was a human rights lawyer and then a public prosecutor. He has never worked in Europe and does not speak any foreign languages. With at least four more years in power, he has time to settle into the role and strategise long term. He fiercely guards his private life, not even making public the names of his teenage son and daughter. Mr Macron, 47, was an investment banker at Rothschild who earned €2.9 million in only four years. In addition to French, he speaks English and German. After calling a disastrous election, which ended in a hung parliament, he will leave office in 2027. He married his drama teacher, Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior – and their relationship has been plastered across serious publications and gossip sites the world over. But the men also have a surprising amount in common. Both are technocratic moderates who hail from the centre-Left, are keen football players and supporters – of Arsenal and Olympique de Marseille respectively – and play the piano. Going against protocol They first met when Mr Macron broke with protocol to invite Sir Keir to the Elysée in 2023 as opposition leader, telling aides he had the ' moral authority ' to lead the UK. No such invitation was sent to Jeremy Corbyn or Ed Miliband while they were in the same role. Mr Macron was given an Arsenal shirt, while Sir Keir walked away with Elysée cuff-links. 'It went well because they're both technocrats and men who know their dossiers,' said Michel Duclos, a former French diplomat who is a special adviser on geopolitics and diplomacy at the Montaigne Institute in Paris and who played a 'small role' in that meeting. Sir Keir said that the meeting was 'constructive and positive', adding: 'It was my first opportunity to say how much I value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security and how, if we are privileged enough to be elected into power, intend to build on that relationship and make it even stronger than it is today.' The relationship received another boost when Rishi Sunak, the prime minister at the time, made an early exit from the international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day to give a TV interview. Sir Keir, who wasn't originally on the invite list, stayed all day and Labour later blasted the Conservative incumbent's 'dereliction of duty'. It was there he also met Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. Mr Macron broke protocol again when he reached out to Sir Keir to congratulate him on election night before he had officially won. The French president was the first world leader to make contact, and the pair spoke again the following day once Sir Keir had entered Downing Street. The new Prime Minister then impressed his counterpart as he hosted the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Blenheim Palace later that month. The EPC was the brainchild of Mr Macron, who oversaw its first meeting in Prague in 2022. He designed the gathering as an informal platform to discuss shared concerns beyond the confines of the EU, mainly regarding Ukraine. It was here that Sir Keir said he sensed a 'real appetite' for a reset in relations between the UK, calling for a 'mature' approach to contentious issues such as small boats, trade and fishing. Last November, Mr Macron invited Sir Keir to attend Armistice Day commemorations in Paris, the first British prime minister to do so since Winston Churchill. Sir Keir returned the favour in January, inviting Mr Macron to Chequers in January. There, he gave a guided tour of his official country residence in Buckinghamshire, pointing out a chair belonging to Churchill, complete with cigar burns left by Britain's war-time prime minister. Then Mr Trump took power and started charging towards a peace deal in Ukraine, leaving Europe in his wake. Sir Peter Ricketts, the former British ambassador to Paris, told The Telegraph: 'Ukraine has pushed the UK and France together as the two leading European military powers after all and then it's just been turbocharged by the chaos of the first Trump six weeks, which has pushed Macron and Starmer into a real leadership role.' Together, they have come up with an Anglo-French plan for peacekeeping troops to enforce and monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine once the war is over. Europe's only nuclear powers are leading the 'coalition of the willing'. 'Pretty effective duo' 'I think they've developed a pretty effective duo,' Sir Peter continued, 'because they bring different things. Macron brings a lot of experience to this international stuff, deep relationships with many of the actors. And Starmer brings political stability, which Macron doesn't have'. 'Macron has experience and agility; Starmer has longevity and staying power.' Both had meetings with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. Mr Macron was stronger in challenging the US president, but it was Sir Keir who came away with a tangible result – no direct tariffs on the UK and approval on the Chagos deal. Mr Macron has summed up his proximity to Sir Keir in three ways, said a source who asked the French president about their relationship. 'First, Starmer isn't a Brexiteer, so from the outset, he was favourable on principle; second, he saw him as a 'decent guy' you could do business with, and thirdly, you can't do defence and security without the British, or the UN Security Council. And both are nuclear powers. The first two points are new.' Sir Kim Darroch, Britain's former ambassador to the US, said: 'No British prime minister would ever want publicly to side with Europe against America – unless something extraordinary happens. The line will always be that both relationships are essential. But if you look at the current reality the British and French are working exceptionally closely together on Ukraine, and rightly so as the two leading military powers in Europe.' 'There does appear to be a perception in Europe that, whatever the British public line, Starmer is moving the UK closer to Europe,' said Sir Kim. Mr Duclos concurred, saying that Sir Keir's decision last month to offer to send troops to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in case of a ceasefire formed the 'basis of the new Entente Cordiale'. Sir Kim said: 'One product of the Ukraine crisis is that, despite the UK having left the EU, Starmer has taken on a leadership role in Europe, alongside Macron, and with Germany having only a caretaker government.' It may not all be plain sailing though. Points of contention Despite their bonhomie, Franco-British sticking points remain, notably on defence industry co-operation. It was revealed last month that Sir Keir's plan to agree a security pact with the EU was being blocked, notably by the French, and there will be no progress on security until he makes concessions on fishing and mobility for young Europeans. 'The French have traditionally been very wary about co-operating because they probably feel that the British defence industry is stronger,' said Sir Peter. 'The French hide behind the EU rules that say the UK is a third country, and therefore can't be part of the EU defence industry projects and programmes. I hope that the current crisis might be able to sweep some of those restrictions away to let the defence industry work together,' he added. 'Just because they're getting on well, it doesn't mean they're going to suddenly let Britain have an easy ride with respect to its Brexit obligations,' said a source close to Mr Macron. 'That is the caveat.'
