In a speech on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron painted an alarmist picture of Europe, which is “mortal” and in danger of being “relegated to the back burner” by the other major powers. He argues for more ambition in the European Union.
We must be aware of the fact that our Europe is mortal, that it can die.” Emmanuel Macron is sounding the alarm about Europe’s attitude. “The values of European liberal democracy are increasingly criticized and challenged.”
“We have rarely made as much progress as during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine,” he continues on a more positive note. Macron delivered his speech at the Sorbonne, the prestigious university in Paris where he gave an influential speech seven years ago on the need for European sovereignty and strategic autonomy. “Europe is now fully aware of these concepts,” he said.
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“But we are still too slow and not ambitious enough,” Macron believes. “It only depends on our choices, but those choices have to be made now. That is why, according to Macron, a major budgetary investment plan is needed. He estimates the need for investments in areas such as defense, AI and decarbonization at 650 to 1,000 billion euros per year. “Europe’s financial strength must therefore double.”
Without rent
In addition to a plea for the development of a stronger European defense, Macron also defended a revision of European trade policy, which should be more focused on defending European interests. “It won’t work if we are the only ones in the world who respect trade rules.” (Read more below the photo)
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He also focused his attention on nationalist parties. “They no longer dare to say that they want to leave the euro or leave Europe,” Macron noted. “They want to continue living in the European building, but without paying the rent.”
Campaign
At the Elysée it was stated that Macron’s speech serves to assert French influence with a view to the installation of a new European Commission. In addition, the speech also seems to be an entry point for the European election campaign in France.
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