Macron warns the EU community: “If we do nothing, Europe will be swept away in five years”

Ahead of an informal EU summit on competitiveness, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to join forces in order to assert itself economically against China and the USA. Europe must invest more, protect its economy, forge new trade alliances and become more sovereign, Macron said in an interview with several European newspapers, including "Süddeutsche Zeitung" and "Le Monde".

In an interview the French leader highlighted the US' imposition of trade tariffs and its claims on Greenland. "People are desperate. You can no longer predict how far the Americans are willing to go," Macron said. "It's not just about Greenland. In this phase, we must rely on ourselves," he emphasized.

"I am telling you: If we do nothing, Europe will be swept away in five years," Macron said. "We have to think of Europe as a power that we create together. We must be able to protect ourselves from the rest of the world, we must try to spread our model." Europe must wake up and grow up geopolitically, Macron said ahead of the meeting of EU heads of state and government on Thursday, at which they intend to discuss the impact of the new geopolitical and geo-economic environment on the EU's competitiveness.

Alternative to the dollar

The global market is increasingly afraid of the American dollar and is looking for alternatives, said Macron. "Let's offer it European debt." A democratic constitutional state is an enormously attractive factor for all investors worldwide. "It is therefore a unique opportunity that would also make it possible to tackle the dominance of the dollar."

A “well-organized European approach” in diplomacy with Moscow

President Macron said in fresh remarks in a Tuesday interview: "What did I gain? Confirmation that Russia does not want peace right now." Yet he stipulated, "But above all, we have rebuilt those channels of discussion at a technical level."

"My wish is to share this with my European partners and to have a well-organized European approach" in diplomacy with Moscow, Macron added.

He reasoned that Europe must be engaging Putin directly "so as not to depend on third parties" or rather – so the EU doesn't stay cut out of US-Russia discussions, as has been the case so far under Trump.

Meanwhile, Macron is simultaneously pledging to stand up to Trump particularly on issues which threaten to divide NATO unity:

"When there’s a clear act of aggression, I think what we should do isn’t bow down or try to reach a settlement," Macron told. “We’ve tried that strategy for months. It’s not working,”

Macron said the Trump administration was being “openly anti-European” and seeking the E.U.’s “dismemberment.” He said he anticipated further tensions with the Trump administration, including over Europe’s regulation of digital technology.

“The U.S. will, in the coming months — that’s certain — attack us over digital regulation,” Macron added, warning of potential U.S. import tariffs from President Donald Trump should the E.U. use its Digital Services Act to control tech companies.

"We're on our own at this point"...

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