The French president has just delivered a crucial speech at the Sorbonne, urging other European states to promptly embrace the principles of a wartime economy, considering the existential threat looming over Europe. Macron emphasised the necessity for Europeans to collaborate in developing the defence industry and liberating themselves from dependence on external arms producers.
Macron stressed the need for the European Union to establish a ‘robust’ defence against Russian missiles in his speech. “Our Europe is mortal; it can perish,” he remarked, citing the words of the French poet and philosopher Paul Valéry. “This depends solely on our choice, but this choice must be made now,” Macron added. He highlighted that Europe is ‘encircled’ by major regional powers and that the values of European ‘liberal democracy’ are increasingly facing criticism and even denial. According to him, the continent is at a ‘critical juncture’ and must promptly reassess its geopolitics and security strategy.
Emmanuel Macron emphasised that Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkan states are an integral part of the common European space. In his opinion, numerous reforms need to be implemented in all these countries to allow them to fully join the European Union. Furthermore, the war taking place on Ukrainian soil has already brought urgent security and defence issues to the forefront, which Europeans must address immediately.
“Russia doesn’t have to win its war against Ukraine,” Macron declared succinctly, clarifying that he deliberately resorts to “strategic ambiguity” in security matters. Acting differently under wartime conditions isn’t an option.
“In 2017, Emmanuel Macron called for the development of European ‘sovereignty’ – an ‘intuition’ that is now widely discussed in the Élysée Palace in light of medical and geopolitical crises that have prompted the EU to make certain changes (for example, budgetary ones). Now, he advocates for a movement towards a ‘strong Europe,’ which he defines as ‘Europe that commands respect and ensures its security, (…) that recognizes it has borders and defends them, (…) that sees the risks it faces and prepares for them.’ He called for ‘stepping out of the role (…) of a strategic minority,'” writes the French internet publication Huffingtonpost.fr.
Similar to seven years ago, the French leader observed that EU states remain vulnerable concerning security and defence. Despite efforts made, Europeans, in his opinion, are ‘insufficiently armed’ compared to the US, Russia, and Iran. To achieve new ‘sovereignty’ in the current, threatening context, Emmanuel Macron proposed strengthening defence, encouraging economic ‘prosperity,’ and fostering ‘humanism.’ “This is how we can fill European sovereignty with content and save the continent from disappearance,” he said. The French leader stated that Europeans must break the habit of dependence on external raw material markets. “France has doubled its defence spending and arms production, but other partners are lagging behind; our system cannot keep up with reality,” he lamented.
Macron’s decision to deliver his speech at the Sorbonne was not coincidental. Back in 2017, he presented another significant address here, advocating for the bolstering of collective economic security. However, his message didn’t resonate widely at the time. Now, addressing ambassadors from 26 other EU member countries, along with the delegation of the European Commission in France, business leaders, students, and researchers, Macron asserted that his vision of European sovereignty has finally received the attention it deserves.
“The truth is, Europe lacks self-love and confidence,” remarked the French leader, urging for resolute action in the realms of security, economy, geopolitics, and humanitarian affairs.
