French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday defended a sovereign Europe, which reduces dependence on other powers and can "choose its own destiny." "We should try to be the decision-makers rather than the ones who follow the rules," he said during a speech at the Nexus institute in The Hague on the occasion of a state visit to the Netherlands.

This speech was highly anticipated, especially after his statements in an interview upon returning from his trip to China in which he stated that Europe has to distance itself from the US and China and "not follow suit", but embody a third way in the face of critical issues.

He was referring to the conflict with Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. The Elysee clarified this morning that France "has not changed its position" on Taiwan and clarified that "the US is an ally", which has not avoided the rain of criticism from some European allies.

Macron argues that, in this context of crisis, Europe must have its own voice, and be autonomous from China and the US, and for this it must strengthen economic and military independence. "We want to be open, we want allies, we want partners, but we always want to be in a position to be able to choose them, not depend on them," said Macron, who reiterated the need for economic and industrial sovereignty.

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We must reduce this dependency to reinforce our identity and sovereignty," he said. Macron recalled that, in the wake of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Europe realized the dependence it had on essential medicines that came from China and energy from Russia, for example.

He has defended "the right to make protectionism on some critical issues": As Europeans "we have vulnerabilities, but if we see that our interests are in danger, we have to take action."

His statements on Taiwan (a matter he has not mentioned) and distancing himself from the US have caused discomfort, although Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy, defended him this morning. "Europe is an ally of the Americans. We share the same values, many common economic interests. But just because we are allies doesn't mean we have to be against China," he said.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized from Washington that "some Western leaders dream of cooperation with the whole world, with Russia and with some Far Eastern powers," he said wryly.

Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calviño noted that Europe "cannot ignore China's role as a geopolitical actor and key trading partner." I think we can't turn our backs on China and try to ignore it," Calviño said in Washington.

European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer recalled Europe's respect for the "one China" policy, but opposed "any desire for unilateral change of the status quo" in Taiwan, especially after the military exercises that Beijing concluded on Monday around the island.

It is not the first time that Macron has stirred up his allies. Before the war in Ukraine he already did it by trying to dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, without having agreed with the rest of the leaders. They also annoyed his statements when he said that there was no need to "humiliate Russia" in a hypothetical peace scenario. In 2019 he had already said that NATO was in a situation of "brain death".

In the Netherlands Macron and his wife were received with military honors and national anthems at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam by King Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima. The last state visit was in 2000, with Jacques Chirac.

Before his speech began, Macron was interrupted by some people in the room, who tried to pull out a banner reading "president of violence and hypocrisy." "Where is French democracy?" and "The climate convention is not respected," they shouted. France is experiencing a crisis arising from the approval of the pension reform, which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 and which is opposed by much of the country.

  • Articles Raquel Villaécija
  • China
  • United States
  • Taiwan
  • Europe
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Netherlands
  • NATO
  • European Commission
  • France

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