“We have to think of Europe as a power that we create together,” says Emmanuel Macron.Image: keystone
French President Emmanuel Macron is insisting on Europe joining forces in order to assert itself economically against China and the USA. Europe must invest more and become more sovereign.
February 10, 2026, 11:45 amFebruary 10, 2026, 11:45 am
French President Emmanuel Macron invited some journalists from major European newspapers ahead of the meeting of EU heads of state and government on Thursday, where they will discuss the effects of the new geopolitical and geoeconomic environment on the EU’s competitiveness. Macron spoke to media professionals about Europe in a new world order. Also that one “Tages-Anzeiger” took part in the conversation.
Europe is suffering from trauma, says Macron at the beginning of the conversation. We no longer know “how far the Americans are prepared to go.” Every time the peak of tension from the USA is over, relief would set in. But: “There will be new threats every day, every week.”
Macron: “If we do nothing, Europe will be swept away in five years”
There was ultimately a backtracking in the Greenland dispute – but one must be aware “that this crisis we are experiencing represents a profound geopolitical break.” All Europeans are affected.
The “microsecond instability” from the USA, as Macron describes it, is not the only threat – because on the other hand there is the “Chinese tsunami” on a commercial level. The French President explained to the “Tages-Anzeiger”:
“We have to ask ourselves: Do we want to be spectators – or actors? If we want to be spectators, then that results in happy submission. We don’t bother anyone, we try to be nice to the Americans, and with the Chinese we carry on as before. I’m telling you: If we don’t do anything, Europe will be swept away in five years.”
The “Greenland moment” made Europeans aware that Europe was under threat. Macron therefore believes: “We have to think of Europe as a power that we create together. We have to be able to protect ourselves from the rest of the world, we have to try to spread our model.”
Macron sees four main goals
Europe is facing a world in disorder. Macron names four factors that play a role:
- The Climate changewhich is progressing faster and faster,
- the USAwhich are a question mark, although one always thought that they guarantee us security,
- Russiawhich no longer supplies cost-effective energy
- and Chinawhich has become an increasingly tough competitor.
Europe must wake up and grow up geopolitically. Four main goals are relevant:
- Simplifying rules and deepening the internal market: “We have to reverse the unnecessary regulations we have made.”
- Diversification: It is important to establish trading partnerships.
- Protecting our industry: By this he means, for example, the preference for European products.
- Investments: “We are not investing enough in defense and security, in technologies and ecological change, in artificial intelligence and quantum technology.” A “common debt capacity” must be created for such expenditure.
Macron wants to resume dialogue with Putin
Regarding the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, it is important to Macron that Europe itself speaks to Vladimir Putin. He explains:
“My thought is very simple: Do we want to delegate the discussions on this to others? Our geographical location will not change, whether we like Russia or not, Russia will still be there tomorrow. It’s just on our doorstep.”
He would therefore have suggested to European colleagues that the dialogue should be resumed – which for some seemed too early.
“I am always respectful, but not weak”
Macron says about his relationship with Trump: “I approach things professionally. So I’m always respectful, predictable, but not weak. I have never insulted the USA, its people or its leadership, never. I don’t make fun of them either because I think the USA is a very large democracy.”
Nevertheless, it is clear to him: “If there is clear aggression, I think that we should not give in.” They tried this strategy for months – it didn’t pay off.
(hkl, with material from awp/sda/dpa)