Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the US visa restrictions imposed on former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other European figures, describing them as an attempt to interfere with the EU’s sovereign laws.
Macron: We reject coercion and intimidation
In a strongly worded post on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter), the French president asserted that these American measures amounted to “intimidation and coercion.” He indicated that their aim was to undermine European digital sovereignty. He further explained that they were intended to disrupt the EU’s ability to regulate its cyberspace.
Defending European regulations
Macron emphasized that the digital rules and regulations implemented by the European Union are the product of a democratic and sovereign process carried out through the European Parliament and the Council. He explained that the rules aim to ensure competition between platforms within Europe and are not directed against any third country.
The French president added that the fundamental principle is to ensure that “what is illegal in the real world must also be illegal online.”
Macron made it clear that the rules governing the European digital space “are not intended to be determined outside of Europe.”
unified European action
The French president concluded his remarks by emphasizing that France, in cooperation with the European Commission and its EU partners, will continue to resolutely defend its regulatory independence and digital sovereignty. He noted that Paris refuses to back down on the strict laws it imposes on major technology platforms (Big Tech) despite American pressure.
