Having had the possibility to assist to the Macron’s debate on EU on April 17 in the European Parliament, Libex offers you a summary of this debate, illustrated – thank you to all the cartoonists who sent their drawings.

For the first time in the history of the European Parliament, the president of a large country has agreed to participate in a debate with MEPs, previously considered as second-class representatives of the people. A debate lasting more than three hours, after a speech by the President of about 25 minutes, during which he did not elude any questions.

Brilliant as usual, sure of his convictions and the importance of his proposals, not hesitating to sting the quite aggressive far-right speakers, especially the former Lepenist Philippot, Emmanuel Macron remained faithful to himself. Notwithstanding the reluctance of the club of the eight Nordic countries unfavourable to any advance on the euro, in spite of the hesitations of the Germans to follow him with a weakened Chancellor, he has withdrawn none of his proposals developed in his speeches of Athens and the Sorbonne. Sure of the prospective value of his ideas and of their importance for the future of Europe in a hostile world, he has, however, listened to critics, but did not demonstrated flexible enough to accept them without first showing that his line was the only one to follow.

He developed two main axes:

– The importance for the Union to defend, within and outside, the values ​​of democracy and European culture that constitute its identity. Values ​​that are and must be the spearhead of the soft power of the Union in all its internal and external actions, including in international commercial agreements. He analysed the return of nationalisms, authoritarian powers and illiberal democracies as the reappearance of a form of “civil war”. He added: “Faced with the authoritarianism that surrounds us everywhere, the answer is not authoritarian democracy, but the authority of democracy “. An authority of which he shows how much he is attached to in his management of the opposition to the reforms put in place by his government.

– The second point was that of the necessary construction of a true European sovereignty, a complementary sovereignty, but not competing one with national sovereignties, indispensable to face the challenges of our world. A digital, commercial, industrial, climatic, energetic, alimentary, social and sanitary sovereignty. A sovereignty that must be translated coherently into a project and a budget for which France is ready to increase its contribution. According to him, given the fact that the problems are global, they must be treated in a global way. The European budget does not reduce the national ones, as it will benefit everyone in a more efficient way.

The debates

Both the President of the Commission, Juncker, the presidents of the main parties EPP/EPP, S & D (Socialists and Democrats), ALDE/ALDE (liberals), Greens/EFA welcomed the return of France on the European field. However, notwithstanding the praise, they did not spare the critics or the warnings. In particular, all said that the EU cannot be reduced to the Franco-German couple, that people must be listened to and protected. It is therefore necessary to abandon the decision-making system based on the European Council alone and its decisions at unanimity. If the French president wants democracy, it has to be at a European level, therefore at the level of the people’s representatives and not only at the level of the heads of government.

Syria

Many have supported the action of France in Syria, given the Russian blockades at the UN, and the loss of credibility of the Union for many years, too soft and weak, a weakness that benefits other powers, even small on a global scale, like Iran. However, many have been the critics: France must respect international law … and act with Europe and not alone.

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Similarly, the migration policy of France has been strongly criticized.

The answers of President Macron

For Macron, if the Franco-German axis is indispensable, but he perfectly knows that the EU is and must be much more than that. However, for him, it should not be acceptable that those who do not want to move forward can block those who want it.

For Syria, he knows perfectly well that the limited strikes operated did not and will not provide a solution, but they mark the return of the West in the political game of the zone. The priority is and must remain the political solution of the crisis – in Geneva – and the development of humanitarian aid.

For the migration problem, the Dublin treaty must be reformed, but as long as it is not, its rules have to be respected, otherwise the situation will become unmanageable. The reform must focus on more solidarity in the management of the common borders, on clear common and harmonized rules in the management of different types of migration, on a European financial solidarity with cities and regions most exposed and active in the reception of migrants and especially in the effort of integration and training of the people welcomed as well in the humanity of the treatment of all migrants.

vidéo intégrale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX4N53KEPhc
Press communiqué from the EP Presidency: See: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/fr-en/newsroom/president-tajani-debate-with-president-macron-in-plenary-demonstrates-the-central-place-of-the-european-citizens-and-parliament-in-the-european-project