A form of European civil war reappearing, says Macron
President Macron called for a European ‘Renaissance’ when he gave his first major speech to the European parliament in a three-hour debate in Strasbourg.
He said we must get more people interested in the EU and bring its nations together beyond such divides as east/west, north/south or small and large, in “a context of divisions, and sometimes of doubts at the heart of Europe, a context where Brexit continues to be discussed”.
It was not only in the UK, but in a number of other states, he said, that such “doubts” were being expressed. “A form of European civil war is reappearing, where our differences, sometimes our national selfishness, seem more important than that which unites us as we face up to the rest of the world.”
As we approach 2019’s Euro elections, he said we must focus on certain convictions, firstly an attachment to a democracy which respects the individual, minorities and fundamental rights. A parliament which for 70 years has brought together peacefully representatives of Europe, in all their diversity, is “a unique model”, a “miracle” and a “treasure” which should not be taken for granted, he said.
Mr Macron said we should not be satisfied with a situation where less than half of eligible citizens vote in European Parliament elections and he said the other leaders have agreed with him that there should be wide-ranging debates in each state in the year ahead. His second big message was “construction of a new European sovereignty” which will show the citizens of Europe that “we can protect them and bring a clear response to the unrest in the world” which he said included problems like African and Middle Eastern wars and “the emergence of authoritarian great powers”.
“This is not to say we should dilute our national sovereignties, but just that to face up to upheavals and transformations worldwide we need a sovereignty which is stronger than our own, but which complements it and doesn’t replace it, and which alone will allow us, faced with great migrations, global insecurity and economic and digital transformations, to find the answers we need.”
On migration, Mr Macron said more solidarity is needed, moving beyond questions of the ‘Dublin’ rules [under which migrants’ cases should be processed in the first country of arrival] and sending people back. He said that there should be an EU programme to support councils which welcome and integrate refugees.
He also called for a ‘digital tax’ to “end the most shocking excesses” (referring to giant firms deemed to pay insufficient tax) and fill coffers.
The EU must also move ahead with economic and monetary union, ‘European universities’ with greater use of Erasmus and new copyright measures to protect the profusion of cultural creation which he said was part of the European identity. Security and defence must also be prioritised, Mr Macron said, as well as developing business opportunities while protecting workers and consumers, and going further with environmental protection with more tax on fossil fuels. We must also make no compromises on food quality and on data protection, Mr Macron said.
Speaking of Brexit, he joked that the best way for the UK to have the closest-possible relationship with its European partners is well-known and is called ‘EU membership’. “That’s the one also that allows for good access to the single market, which allows for access to freedoms, and really good integration,” he said. He said friendship with the UK was very important to him, but there could be no cherry-picking when it came to the single market.
Mr Macron was warmly welcomed by EU president Jean-Claude Juncker who said “the real France is back”, and he received a standing ovation at the end of the debate.
