Gabriel Attal Calls for a “Two-Speed” European Union in French Presidential Bid

Gabriel Attal, the 37-year-old centrist candidate, has made a central campaign promise to reshape the European Union through a “two-speed” model. He envisions a new treaty, approved by a pan-EU referendum, that would let willing member states accelerate the integration of economies, regulatory regimes, and labor-capital markets. The plan also calls for joint European debt, the removal of intra-bloc trade barriers, and the encouragement of bloc-wide mergers, particularly in telecommunications and financial services.

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Attal is positioning himself as the most pro-European option among a crowded field that includes former prime minister Edouard Philippe and euroskeptic Marine Le Pen. Polls have repeatedly shown Attal trailing both rivals, while French voters remain skeptical of the EU, especially after the Commission’s recent trade agreement with Latin America, which many perceived as a threat to French agriculture.

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The proposed treaty would create a fast-track pathway for “like-minded” countries to deepen economic ties, effectively forming a sub-union within the EU. Attal also advocates for a common European debt instrument to finance joint projects and for the elimination of trade obstacles that currently fragment the internal market. By promoting cross-border mergers, he aims to boost competitiveness in sectors such as telecoms and finance, which he argues are hampered by existing EU red tape.

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If Attal wins the presidency, the implementation of a two-speed EU would depend on von der Leyen’s willingness to negotiate a new treaty and on the outcome of a future EU-wide referendum. The proposal could reshape the balance between national sovereignty and supranational coordination, but its success hinges on overcoming entrenched skepticism among French voters and securing consensus among EU leaders.

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