French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech yesterday in Paris at the Sorbonne University in Paris, setting out his vision and plans for Europe's future. This is in anticipation of the upcoming European Parliament elections and echoes the speech he gave at the same venue seven years ago. Therefore, some people also called this lecture "Sorbonne University Season 2".
Europe is dead
Macron first recalled his speech seven years ago, and said that the world has changed dramatically in the past seven years and has encountered many crises. He was glad that there was no second Britain (referring to leaving the EU), he warned
"On the horizon of the next decade, there is a huge risk of being weakened or even downgraded, as we are at an unprecedented moment of upheaval, acceleration and great change in the world. We need to be soberly aware that our Europe today is deadly. It may die, it may die, it all depends on our choice.
"Today is a day of peace and war issues on our continent and whether our ability to ensure our security is at stake. Because major transformations in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the environment and decarbonization are now taking place. The reconfiguration of the factors of production is now in jeopardy. The question of whether Europe will become a force for innovation, research and production is now being played out"
Europe could "die" if it fails to build its own strong defenses while Russia's war in Ukraine rages, or if it fails to carry out major trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the United States.
The era of that Europe, which was and is today, when energy and fertilizers were bought from Russia, produced in China, and entrusted their security to the United States of America is over.
Europe can no longer be a lackey of the United States
He believes that the EU should not count on the United States in the future, because the United States currently has "two priorities" for any matter, the United States of America first and China second.
Europe now has the "good fortune" of the Biden administration's pledge to support Ukraine. However, he added that support could be divided or disappear altogether in a year of key elections in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. He is here to hint that the US election, Trump comes to power, and will lose US support in the Russian-Ukrainian war
"Europe must be able to defend its interests, they will stand by us as long as the allies (the United States and the United Kingdom) want to, and if necessary (if they do not coincide with the interests of the United States and the United Kingdom, Europe needs) alone," Macron said. "Only in this way can Europe show that it is not a lackey of the United States and that it also knows how to talk to the rest of the world. ”
Europe needs to learn to behave unruly
We need to revise our trade policy. It won't work if we were the only country in the world that respects the trade rules that were laid down fifteen years ago. If Chinese and Americans strengthen their competitiveness by subsidizing key sectors, we cannot be the only ones who do not.
Macron also called for different rules for industrial policy and competition policy. We must include in our treaty Europe's preferences in strategic sectors, defense, and space, because in fact, our competitors do.
To support key sectors of the AI and green technology transition, Macron has even suggested not sticking to free-market principles.
Have you seen the Americans finance our industry in these areas?" Macron asked. "There are companies that are heavily subsidized by the government. Why not do the same in Europe? "We need to deviate from free trade when it comes to certain industries to deal with subsidies".
Easier said than done
Macron is a fervent advocate of a united and confident Europe, and the speech did not deviate from his main character. But he did not give any viable options for getting out of the situation of buying energy and fertilizers from Russia, buying or producing goods from China, entrusting their security to the United States.