Speaking at the Sorbonne on Thursday, the French leader warned that Europe could disappear. “Our Europe is mortal today, it can die,” Macron said.
The leader of the Fifth Republic suggested that the European Union, with a strong geopolitical position, could withstand military challenges and threats to its security.
“This is what we urgently need to do, and this is a new paradigm in defence. “Europe must be able to defend what it loves, together with its allies, when they are ready to do so with us, and if necessary, alone,” Macron said.
“When we have a neighbor that has become aggressive, (…) has ballistic capabilities, where it has introduced many tactics in recent years (…), has nuclear weapons and has shown its capabilities, it will be clear that we must create a strategic concept for a reliable European defense,” said the French president.
Macron called the war in Ukraine “the main threat to European security today.”
“A strong Europe that is respected and secure,” he continued, “It is a Europe that recognizes that it has borders and defends them.” “
If Europe wants to be counted, it must also change the pattern regarding its economic and trade ties, said Macron. As a result of the move to stricter social and environmental standards, the president warned that the EU risks losing its position to the United States and China, which are pursuing aggressive policies to protect their interests. to protect, including providing government subsidies to businesses.
“Today it is a challenge for us to move much faster and rethink our growth model. With this too, the rules of the game have changed, and they have changed in a simple way: two major international powers have decided not to respect the rules of the game anymore. trade
The French President said he wants the European Union to speed up development in five strategic areas that will shape the world today: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space, biotechnology and new types of energy.
