If the time was not at war, Emmanuel Macron would almost indulge in a “cocorico”. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the leaders of the European Union (EU) have presented a relatively united face in the face of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Economic sanctions, arms deliveries to Ukraine, reception of refugees fleeing the country… “Our Europe has shown unity and determination. She has entered a new era. praised the President of the Republic, on March 2, during a speech devoted to the conflict. “Europe has changed under the impact of the pandemic. It will change faster and stronger under the impact of the war”, he added, Thursday, March 10, in the preamble to an informal summit of heads of state and government meeting in Versailles, promising “historic decisions”.
This meeting, which was to end on Friday, was seen by the Elysée as that of the ” startle “ and some “European sovereignty”. A concept promoted for five years by Emmanuel Macron, which today finds a concrete translation, it is estimated at the top of the State. And represents an argument for the presidential election of April 10 and 24.
“The Europe of Fear”
A few weeks ago, the Head of State thought he would take advantage of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union to draw a cleavage with his opponents – in particular Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour – and present himself as a cantor of the Europe faced with the partisans of nationalist withdrawal. “Power, revival, belonging” : such was the slogan of this European presidency, seen as a catalyst for Macron’s discourse. Finally, the war on Europe’s doorstep represents a much more powerful mouthpiece. This is “the Europe of fear”, according to the expression of the former President of the Republic, François Hollande.
“We see to what extent strategic autonomy and European sovereignty are not French fads, but emergencies and imperatives in the face of the acceleration of historyemphasizes Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs. You can only be a power through energy independence, safe and agri-food. On all aspects of this crisis, everyone sees that European solidarity is needed. » In order to be able to do without, in the long term, gas, oil and raw materials from Russia, but also to build a common defense.
In recent days, his supporters have therefore not failed to recall that Emmanuel Macron had demanded, from his speech at the Sorbonne, in September 2017, the construction of the “European sovereignty” in all these areas. The Head of State also referred to it himself at Versailles on Thursday. “Unfortunately, it took a war for what the president has said since his speech at the Sorbonne to overcome the reluctance of certain states, regrets the MEP (Renew) Nathalie Loiseau. Now Germany is increasing its defense budget and exporting weapons. Poland, long hostile to solidarity between EU countries, finds itself on the front line, hosting refugees and benefiting from European aid. It’s a paradigm shift. » However, many disagreements remain, in particular on the need to propose a new recovery plan in the face of the crisis, or whether or not to continue to use Russian gas.
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