French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a strong but clear signal to Europe: our continent must no longer be “just a big market,” but must become a force that can make independent decisions, relying on its own economic strength. According to him, this is not another “transition period,” but a new era in which the rules have changed.
According to Macron, the new factors affecting us will not disappear in the short term. That is, this is not a temporary shock — this is a structural turning point.
No turning back in energy
The president, recalling that cheap Russian energy stopped in 2022, expressed a clear position in the sense of "no turning back." According to him, the concept of a "permanent and cheap source" for Europe will not return - therefore, it is necessary to adapt to a new energy order.
New economic reality against the backdrop of the US and China
Macron highlighted several areas in particular:
- The US is applying tariffs and coercive mechanisms to the European economy, which is changing the "rules of the game."
- He called China an authoritarian regime and noted that this is a "collective choice."
Simply put: the outside world is no longer holding an open door saying "yes, please." Whoever is stronger sets the conditions. Therefore, Europe must also learn to defend its interests more firmly.
What do expensive energy and carbon prices accelerate?
Another of Macron's strong points: rising energy prices and carbon costs could accelerate deindustrialization, not decarbonization. That is, if factories cut production not because they are "going green" but simply because they cannot survive - this is a dangerous scenario for Europe.
"Un-European" measures may be needed
The president's most interesting and somewhat "real life" statement was this: sometimes decisions have to be made that do not quite fit into Europe's DNA. But this is not a rejection of values, but a strategy for survival and staying strong in the new era.
The EU is still at the center
Macron presented the European Union as a place where the rule of law and a predictable system will be preserved. That is, no matter how much external pressures increase, Europe must not retreat from being an area of "order" and reliable law.
The bottom line is: Macron is sending a strong signal that “it’s time to wake up.” Europe should no longer act as a market, but as a force. The strategy of “making everyone happy” will not work in this era — sorry, this is not a Netflix series, this is geoeconomics.
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