In 2017, Macron caused a stir with his Europe speech. Seven years later, the French president is once again calling on Europe to cooperate more closely on defense. Europe is mortal and is at a turning point.
Seven years after his sensational speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of dangers for Europe. “There is an immense risk of being weakened or even left behind,” he said in a keynote speech. “Our Europe today is mortal, it can die, and that depends solely on our decisions.”
Europe is at a turning point and must do more to compete with rapidly arming global rivals, said Macron. Europe must wake up to the fact that it is underarmed in the face of global threats such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and that it must change its defense strategy.
Macron beats European ones Military Academy before
Because the war in Ukraine is the greatest threat to Europe’s security: “The basic prerequisite for our security is that Russia does not win this war of aggression,” he continued. He proposed the establishment of a European military academy. Europe also needs to strengthen the area of cybersecurity and promote its own defense industry. “How can we build our sovereignty, our autonomy, if we do not take responsibility for the development of our own European defense industry?” he asked.
The nuclear deterrent that France has at its disposal is “an essential element of the defense of the European continent,” explained Macron. “Thanks to this credible defense, we can build the security guarantees that our partners across Europe expect,” he emphasized.
He also spoke out in favor of expanding the relationship with Great Britain at the defense level after Brexit. Macron described Brexit as one of the “unprecedented crises” Europe has faced in recent years. It was an “explosion” whose negative effects meant that today no one dares to propose an exit – neither from Europe nor from the euro.
Macron: Don’t be dependent on the USA
Macron said Europe must be able to open a dialogue with third countries and show that it is not a “vassal” of the US. Economically, the old continent is at risk of falling behind in the international context and must rethink its growth model.
Second edition of his 2017 speech
As early as 2017, the then newly elected president had drawn up an ambitious vision for a sovereign Europe at the Sorbonne University, which caused a stir. At that time, Macron spoke out in particular in favor of greater EU sovereignty and a common defense policy. The corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine made these demands unexpectedly topical.
However, it was said in advance from the Élysée Palace that this speech should not be a campaign speech before the European elections. According to pollsters, Macron’s camp is currently far behind the right-wing populist Rassemblement National, which polls show around 30 percent. Macron’s list, however, only gets 16 to 19 percent, and top candidate Valerie Hayer is largely unknown to the public.
Carolin Dylla, ARD Paris, tagesschau, April 25, 2024 1:37 p.m