March 5, 2019–Facing an uncertain future in the wake of the United Kingdom’s Brexit dilemma and the rise of nationalist politics in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron published a letter to EU citizens that outlined a “roadmap for European renewal.”
The op-ed ran in newspapers throughout the 28-member European Union. It comes ahead of the May 23-26 European Parliament elections. Here are five takeaways:
1. Nationalism Must Be Addressed
Nationalists — or populist — parties are on the rise in Europe, challenging the established order in both national governments and the European Union. One study featured in Parliament Magazine says support for populist political parties has tripled in the last two decades, reaching a significant threshold of 25 percent.
Macron acknowledged that rising influence. He said that while he rejects nationalists’ goals of turning away from Europe, he thinks leaders need to address their fears. Ignoring nationalists is no longer an option.
“But those who would change nothing are also misguided, because they deny the fears felt by our peoples, the doubts that undermine our democracies,” Macron said.
He added that Europe needs to reinvent itself culturally and politically.
2. Breaking Away Is Not An Option
In reference to the United Kingdom’s troubled attempt to break off from the EU, Macron said Brexit is a failed strategy.
It “symbolizes the crisis of Europe.” It happened because the EU failed to protect its citizens from “shocks of the modern world,” but the Brexit referendum failed to account for the lost access to the European market. In effect, disintegration is a “trap.”
“Nationalist retrenchment offers nothing; it is rejection without an alternative,” Macron wrote.
3. Europe is More Than A ‘Soulless Market’
“Yet Europe is not just a market. It is a project. A market is useful, but it should not detract from the need for borders that protect and values that unite,” Macron asserted.
Macron said beyond the benefits of a single market, Europe is “an unprecedented project of peace, prosperity and freedom.”
In Macron’s view, Europe stands for progressive values, such as social protections, minimum wage, food and environmental standards and protections against climate change.
4. Democracy Must Be Protected
Macron said European needs to defend itself against manipulation from foreign powers, including cyber attacks and fake news that spreads hate. It also needs to counter the amassing power of digital giants.
He is asking for an European agency that protects democratic elections in each EU member state.
5. Stronger Border Controls, Defense
As mass migration has added stress to member states and the unity of the EU, individual countries have responded differently.
Macron wrote in favor of Europe having a common asylum policy, rather than allowing member states to create their own policies.
Along with that, he said Europe needs stricter border controls on its borders with non-member states.
“On the issue of migration, I believe in a Europe that protects both its values and its borders,” Macron said.
He added that the EU needs a common defense, in terms of both militarily and in its trade practices. That would mean increasing defense spending, agreeing to a “truly operational” mutual defense clause and getting tougher with trade policies and practices.
For the full text of the letter, click here.
