English-French translations for on the face of it

a prioriCe point semble a priori très technique. On the face of it, this looks like a very technical issue. C'est a priori un constat plutôt positif mais je ne saurais, à ce stade, vous en dire plus. On the face of it, this is something positive but I cannot tell you any more at this stage. Il s'avère qu'a priori ce pays sera en mesure de participer aux prochaines élections européennes de 2004, ce dont je me réjouis ! It appears that, on the face of it, Poland will be able to participate in the next European elections in 2004, which I am delighted about.
en apparenceCeux-ci ne peuvent accepter que l'Union européenne prenne des décisions de façon, du moins en apparence, bureaucratique. Our citizens cannot accept that the European Union takes decisions in a way that is, at least on the face of it, bureaucratic. Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, le rapport Poggiolini se fonde sur de bons sentiments qui en feraient, en apparence, un bon rapport. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Poggiolini report is full of good intentions, something which, on the face of it, ought to make it a good report.

On the face of it, his case seemed hopeless. But appearances can be deceptive

Dictionary