Politico: French is replacing English as a working language in the European Union

France plans to use its first presidency since Britain's exit from the European Union to push the treatment of its mother tongue as a "common language" for Brussels, the American newspaper "Politico" revealed on Tuesday.

A French diplomat - quoted by the newspaper without giving his name - stated that the government of President Emmanuel Macron is making plans for the French language, to replace the English language; As an official working language of the European Union when it takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2022.

"Even if we admit that English is a working language and is commonly practiced, the basis of self-expression in French remains fully applicable in the institutions of the European Union," the diplomat said.

"We must enrich it, make it live again so that the French language truly reclaims its lands, and above all, be proud and savor our multilingualism," he added.

The diplomat - who was not named by the newspaper but described as a senior - explained that all high-level meetings of the council - the body that helps set the political agenda in Brussels - will be held in French instead of English during the six-month presidency.

The comments will also be "in French first" and the Council expects all communications from the European Union Commission to be in French.

"We will always ask the commission to send us the letters it wishes to address to the French authorities in French, and if they fail to do so, we will wait for the French version before sending it," the diplomat said.

In the context, Macron's ministers have expressed a keen interest in pushing French ahead of the "artificial" English used by officials in Brussels, now that the United Kingdom has left the bloc.

EU Affairs Minister Clement Bonn and Foreign Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoine said in April that the presidency had created "an opportunity to raise the profile of this important struggle for multilingualism".

It comes as tensions once again escalate between the UK and the EU over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol arrangements set out in last year's Brexit deal.