EU flag under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris PARIS, Jan 2, Anastasia Ivanova. The flag of the European Union was removed from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris after criticism, the RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the scene. The canvas was hung in honor of the beginning of the six-month French presidency of the EU Council. Representatives of the right and extreme right reacted sharply to this, including the presidential candidate and leader of the National Rally party Marine Le Pen, the candidate from the center-right Republicans party Valerie Pécresse and the leader of the Revoyevoye party, Eric Zemmour. They called the situation blasphemy and an insult to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located under the arch, and called on President Emmanuel Macron to return the national flag there. The EU banner was to fly under the arch for several days: it was planned to be removed along with the Christmas illumination, which is removed from the Champs Elysees on January 9. At the same time, posters with stars on a blue background remained around the perimeter. Le Pen called the decision of the authorities a “patriotic victory.” “A beautiful patriotic victory at the dawn of 2022! The government was forced to remove the European Union flag from the Arc de Triomphe. France and the Republic in order to force Emmanuel Macron to back out, «she wrote on Twitter.
Une belle victoire patriotique à l'aube de 2022!
Le gouvernement a été obligé de retirer le drapeau de l'Union européenne de l'Arc de Triomphe …
Merci à la mobilization massive de tous les amoureux de la France et de la République pour faire reculer Emmanuel Macron. https://t.co/BNNJ0BJMhG
& # 8212; Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) January 2, 2022 At the same time, the French flag has not yet been returned under the arch. The French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will last for six months, began on January 1, 2022. French ministers will preside over the meetings of the relevant EU ministers , promote compromise, decision-making, approval of legislative initiatives both within the Council and in cooperation with other EU institutions — the European Commission and the European Parliament. 
Chairmanship of the Council of the European Union passed to France As a result, the European Union intends to announce a new large-scale investment package for African countries. In addition, at the EU summit in late March, European leaders plan to endorse the «Strategic Compass» — the first pan-European strategy in the field of defense and security.