"There should be no restrictions on assistance to Ukraine": Macron outlines programme to save Europe
On the eve of the European Parliament elections, the French President draws attention to the main threats to Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a keynote speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, outlining his views on the future of Europe and the main existential threats to the continent.
Key points from the speech:
* We need strong defence. NATO is important, but we need a European defence system. russia must not win the war – this is a condition for our security. There should be no restrictions on assistance to Ukraine.
* Europe has unity. We got rid of our dependence on Russian hydrocarbons and from the first day of the aggression we supported Ukraine together. Europe has become a single entity. Ukraine and Moldova are part of our family, and they, like the Western Balkans, will join the EU when the time comes.
Discours sur l’Europe. https://t.co/WAUhV5ZP5B
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 25, 2024
* We responded quickly to crises, but is it enough? Our Europe today is mortal. Our values are under threat. And we are not sufficiently protected from the risks that threaten us because we are too slow to react.
* Our economic model is no longer sustainable. We want to have everything, but this is not consistent with reality. China and the US have stopped respecting trade rules. We should not try to pursue a more naive trade policy than they do.
* Let's make Europe a world leader in five key sectors by 2030: artificial intelligence, quantum computers, space, energy and agriculture.
* Our democracy is increasingly being criticised through propaganda. And we allow this to happen. Europe may die if we do not respond to the challenges of the times and the acceleration of history. To be European is not just to live in Europe, it means to defend an idea that puts individuals above all else. This is the humanism that distinguishes us from others. But we should not be naive.
It is noted that Macron's speech took place a month and a half before the European Parliament elections. According to polls, Macron's party, the National Revival, is in third place, behind the right-wing populist National Front and the Socialists. French media speculate that the current speech was intended as a follow-up to a 2017 speech Macron also gave at the Sorbonne after his recent inauguration as president, which was dedicated to European values.
Background. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Belgium has launched an investigation into Russian interference in the upcoming European elections. The country's intelligence services have confirmed the existence of a Russian agent network that is trying to undermine support for Ukraine.
If you have read this article to the end, we hope that means it was useful for you.
We work to ensure that our journalistic and analytical work is of high quality, and we strive to perform it as competently as possible. This also requires financial independence. Support us for only UAH 196 per month.
Become a Mind subscriber for just USD 5 per month and support the development of independent business journalism!
You can unsubscribe at any time in your LIQPAY account or by sending us an email: [email protected]
