French discontent moved to the Netherlands on Tuesday, April 11, when a group of demonstrators prevented Emmanuel Macron from starting his speech in The Hague, shouting “Where is French democracy?” the convention on the climate is not respected”, or by brandishing a banner where one could read in English: “President of violence and hypocrisy”. This moment of hesitation passed, the President of the Republic was able to present his project, that of making the European Union the third world pole of the economy, alongside the United States and China. And to do this, Europe must reform itself in depth.
At the center of his project for a new Europe, Emmanuel Macron brandished the notion of sovereignty. Far from signifying a “return to protectionism”, or a “negligence of partners”, this concept must find its foundation in the “strength of the multitude”, to paraphrase the definition of sovereignty given by the philosopher Spinoza. “If you agree to depend on another power, you lose your identity”, declared Emmanuel Macron, anxious to make European countries “decision makers and not followers”. The outbreak of war in Ukraine must, for the French president, serve as a revealer: “Europe has not given enough importance to its economic security”, and, to remedy this, it must define a new doctrine. , which he explains in five points.
Increase the competitiveness of the Old Continent
Emmanuel Macron calls for further European integration, which would make it possible to defend the European model vis-à-vis the rest of the world. “We cannot live on a continent where we are not competitive,” he said. Production, the basis of competitiveness, must increase, and this thanks to innovation, “recruitment and training of talent”. For this wish to come true, we must agree on a common approach that would promote “the circulation of savings” and allow “less fragmented financing of the economies.”
Find an industrial policy
Long taboo in Europe, the return of a common industrial policy remains, for Emmanuel Macron, an essential condition for maintaining European independence. “Autonomy is built from industrial policy”, he noted, fearing that Europe will find itself completely overwhelmed by “the innovations developed by competitors”.
To avoid the trap of dependence, for example in terms of energy, Europe must rely more on itself. And this policy requires “subsidies at the national and federal levels”. The European Commission has looked into the question of the rationalization of European industry, and is considering regulations that are supposed to attract as many investors as possible.
An open but vigilant common market
Being open to the world is a good idea, provided you filter what comes there. This is what Emmanuel Macron thinks, who wants the Common Market to be able to “postpone critical investments”. For example, he cites the algorithms developed by ill-intentioned states, which threaten the proper functioning of democracy in Europe. “We must be coordinated and protect the European model by taking, if necessary, protectionist measures.”
The principle of reciprocity
The addition of national interests will always be, for Emmanuel Macron, a bad method of managing the continent. He thus exposed the need for reciprocity. But this principle must also be extended to non-European partners. “A free trade agreement must go beyond the simple economic framework,” he explains. “For example, we must not trade with governments that do not respect the Paris agreement”.
Ensuring the promotion of the European model
By strengthening its coordination, Europe will be able to boast of its merits beyond its borders. Coordination is, for the French president, a means of promotion, or at least, already, the affirmation of a clear identity. “European countries must be inspired by the spirit of coffee, these places where disagreements and dreams are shared”, believes Emmanuel Macron. Before recalling that in the face of the hostility of the world, dreams carry the risk of being dreamed, and that to avoid this pitfall, they must be pragmatic.