Nice Premium: You are the first European Deputy from the Azur region. Is this an advantage or a disadvantage?
Gaston Franco: An advantage, obviously, as everything that happens will be a plus for me.
N.P: With your new status, what are your plans for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region at the European level?
G.F: I intend to organize and structure the European initiatives of Nice. For instance, Christian Estrosi regretted that Nice was not solicited, especially for the first tramway line. Valenciennes and its former mayor, Jean-Louis Borloo, received subsidies while Nice did not. Christian Estrosi estimated that Nice spent over 400 million euros due to the lack of subsidies.
Moreover, there are several services in Nice that manage European files but the people in charge are often alone and do not have real expertise.
We need to adapt to the European market which operates with lobbying efforts. An elected official was missing to carry out this lobbying work.
I am just one element aiming to represent the department. Many mayors have rallied greatly for my election. For the first time, the mayor of Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin, was the one who most supported my candidacy. Therefore, I would like Nice and Marseille to collaborate, particularly on the subject of the Euro-Mediterranean union.
N.P: Nicolas Sarkozy has given you a road map. What tasks have been assigned to you?
G.F: The president reminded us of the campaign commitments and invited us to defend them. He warned us about the ease with which one can blend into the mold in an institution like the European Parliament. For example, regarding the re-election of José Manuel Barroso, Nicolas Sarkozy advised us to consider his arguments before making our decision. He also told us to remain vigilant about the technocracy. However, I have already noticed that if there is a real political will, it is possible to influence the commission. This was the case with the rosé wines.
N.P: You, who are a great advocate of sustainable development, how did you interpret this green surge in the last election?
G.F: I have been very involved in ecology for ten years, especially due to my presidency of the Mercantour National Park, which was very positive. So, I do not need advice from anyone on this.
Regarding the results of Europe Ecologie, it is simply a punishment for the socialists who kept engaging in anti-Sarkozysm to the detriment of their own program. It is also a rebuke to the pretensions of François Bayrou. After that, it must also be acknowledged that Daniel Cohn-Bendit knows his way around. He managed to gather and unify the greens. Bringing together Eva Joly, José Bové… was almost a miracle. He is a genuine advocate for Europe, having conducted a real European campaign unlike others. Some socialist voters felt lost and hence turned towards Europe Ecologie.
However, we must not forget that the Grenelle Environment initiative was implemented by the UMP. In this regard, we are currently working on a forthcoming Grenelle for the Mediterranean.
N.P: What are the mandates or contracts that you will be forced to leave before heading to Strasbourg?
G.F: My role as a city council advisor will be suspended as the regulations stipulate. I will only hold the position of European Deputy. I will be present every week in Strasbourg and one week per month in Brussels.
N.P: You were one of the architects of Nice 2018. If an Olympic bid comes to Nice again, you will therefore be its European defender?
G.F: Of course, I will defend all the files concerning Nice. The team is currently working on other projects which I will of course support with vigor and passion.
N.P: Politics is happening on the web today. Will we ever see Gaston Franco in an online chat?
G.F: It’s true that on this matter, Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti are far ahead of me. But I plan to get involved as soon as my team is set up.
