In Cracow, Emmanuel Macron recalls the importance of European values

Text by: RFI Follow

Emmanuel Macron ended this Tuesday, February 4, his state visit to Poland by a detour to Krakow. Highlight of the day, he spoke to 150 students from the famous Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest in Central Europe.

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In a speech of more than an hour, Emmanuel Macron spoke in particular of history and the temptation to rewrite it. Whether on the part of Russia over a Polish responsibility in the outbreak of the Second World War, or that of Warsaw, when the Conservative government minimized collaboration with the Nazis. " There is something that has come to a halt in recent years, in Europe, here, " said the French president.

After a first day where he worked to calm relations between France and Poland , Emmanuel Macron was more incisive this Tuesday in front of the students of Jagiellonian University. Particularly in his criticism of the Polish judicial system being brought to a halt, reports our special envoy, Anastasia Becchio . “ Europe is not only a market, it is a foundation of values, rights and freedoms. The separation of power, the independence of justice, the freedoms of the people, this is what makes the essence of Europe ”.

And in this university which welcomed an illustrious student, the French president quoted these famous words in Polish: " Do not be afraid ". The injunction of John Paul II that Emmanuel Macron makes his own. A message to this Poland of which he hopes to make an ally in post-Brexit Europe.

But in Krakow, considered the cultural and intellectual center of the country, the students whom the French president addressed are worried. “ Democracy is not at best in Poland. And the European Commission is watching this closely. This must be a warning to our government. I think he is taking us out of the European Union, ”says Maia at the microphone of our correspondent, Thomas Giraudeau .

Next door, his friend, Pawel Marczyk, a student in international relations, shares this concern of a Polexit. " Yes, I think it's possible. The judges can now lose their jobs, be dismissed just because they have expressed their opinion. So if Europe wants to change something and help us, it has to stop paying money to Poland. "

Michal Slawtczuk, on the other hand, wants to be optimistic. Polexit, he says, is still a long way off. “ Over 80% of Poles are for the EU. And totally against the Polexit. So there, I'm not afraid. On the other hand, I am afraid of the marginalization of Poland because it is less important than other European countries. Students just want their country of 40 million people to weigh more. But for that, Poland must settle its conflict with Europe over justice.

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• Poland
• France
• Emmanuel Macron

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