French won’t fry us on carbon emissions and submarines

France’s ambassador to Australia says the EU will not demand dramatic new climate change pledges from Australia in return for a new trade deal.

French ambassador Christophe Penot. Picture: AAP

France’s ambassador to Australia, Christophe Penot, says the EU will not demand dramatic new climate change pledges from Australia in return for a new trade deal, revealing Europe only wants to see “a bit more” ambition from Australia.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Penot also said the future ­submarine program was on track, and French shipbuilder Naval Group would soon formalise its commitment to at least 60 per cent Australian content for the program in its contract with the government.

He also said France wanted to lift its maritime security partnership with Australia in the Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans, and work more closely with Australia to “make sure we elect the right people” to positions in international institutions.

The head of France’s business promotion agency reportedly called this week for Australia to ­urgently adopt zero-emissions commitments, warning that the free-trade agreement under negotiation with the EU must accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral Australian economy.

Mr Penot said the EU parliament “will look at the climate change dimension very closely” when considering the deal.

He said France had asked Australia “to, respectfully, do more” in relation to its climate change commitments, but stressed that a zero-emissions commitment was “not on the table”.

“We don’t want this to become a major contentious point,” Mr Penot told The Australian.

“We have an open discussion on this, but the minimum would be to restate the Paris commitment, and if we could get a bit more through the discussions, it would be good.”

Mr Penot said French President Emmanuel Macron and Scott Morrison had developed a close working relationship and spoke recently on the need to work ­together to keep Taliban prisoners — include the murderers of Australian and French citizens — ­behind bars.

He said the $90bn Attack-class submarine program, being delivered by Naval Group, was “well on track” and would bring the two countries even closer together.

The program would “not be all sunshine and roses”, he said, but rejected reports of cost blowouts and delays.

“I am also convinced — because I know this is important for Australia — that Naval Group is fully committed to this 60 per cent Australian industrial content,” Mr Penot said.

“It is just a question of time. They have agreed with the commonwealth to write this into the strategic partnering agreement.

“It takes a little bit of time to do this but I am completely confident this will be done.”

The assurance follows Naval Group’s failure so far to make a contractual commitment to 60 per cent Australian content in the boats, despite assurances that it would do so.

Mr Penot said the main difficulty with the project was there was little tangible progress that could be used “to convince the public and the press that things are going well”.

“When we are able to show ­tangible things — the shipyard or the design of the first boat — it will be much easier to demonstrate it is happening,” he said.

The ambassador also stressed France’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, “because we are part of it”.

France has six overseas territories and 1.6 million citizens in the region, as well as 80 per cent of its exclusive economic zone.

Amid rising tensions in the region and a vacuum in global leadership, Mr Penot said France wanted to lift its engagement with “like-minded” countries to protect the rules-based order.

He said France was committed to working with Australia in institutions including the World Health Organisation and the G20, to ensure “there are people there who are sharing our values”.