Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron called for accelerating the European independence agenda
strengthening the European Union’s ability to make its own decisions, and building a more competitive and sovereign economy,
ahead of an upcoming meeting of EU leaders dedicated to discussing competitiveness.
In a post on the X platform, Macron said he is working in coordination with the President of the European Council
and the President of the European Commission to prepare for the European summit scheduled for next week,
which will focus primarily on ways to enhance the Union’s competitiveness in light of rapidly evolving economic and geopolitical challenges.
External crises and market volatility
The French president stressed that Europe must be “more capable of determining its own destiny,”
emphasizing that the current stage requires accelerating the steps toward European independence at the economic, industrial,
and technological levels, thereby strengthening the Union’s resilience to external crises and the volatility of global markets.
Macron explained that the priorities for the next phase should focus on four main axes: intensive investment in strategic sectors,
protecting European economic and industrial interests, diversifying partnerships and supply chains,
and simplifying regulatory rules and procedures to stimulate growth and accelerate the pace of innovation.
The European Union and vital sectors
He pointed out that increasing global competition, geopolitical shifts,
and escalating economic conflicts among major powers necessitate
that the European Union act more swiftly and decisively to maintain
its international standing and enhance its ability to defend its interests and values.
This stance comes at a time when the EU is attempting to reduce its dependence on external partners in vital sectors such as energy,
advanced industries, digital technology, and supply chains, amidst growing calls
within Europe to build a more independent and resilient economic model.
At the upcoming summit, EU leaders are expected to discuss practical
proposals to boost European competitiveness, support investment,
and improve the business environment, in line with a vision to make Europe more sovereign and influential
on the international stage, capable of confidently and independently facing future challenges.
