InternationalLink

Macron tells German parliament Europe must block global chaos

In a speech to Germany's parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must not become 'a plaything of great powers' and that 'in this global order [...] our true strength lies in unity'.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

To support Mediapart subscribe

France's President Emmanuel Macron has called for closer ties between his country and Germany, saying Europe "has the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos," reports BBC News.

Mr Macron is in Berlin for the country's annual day of mourning for victims of war.

In a speech to Germany's parliament, he said Europe must not "become a plaything of great powers".

Mr Macron wants a more integrated EU, with a joint eurozone budget.

He also wants Germany's backing for a European Army, which he has said would reduce the bloc's dependence on the US, and a new tax on internet tech giants.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed tentative support for some of these ideas, but others are controversial in Berlin.

The French leader spoke of nationalist forces "with no memory", and urged progressive forces to unite in an uncertain world.

"There are too many powers that wish to thwart us, that interfere in our public debates, attack our liberal democracies and are trying to pit us against each other," he said. "And in this global order, which we have to take very seriously, our strength - our true strength - lies in unity."

US President Donald Trump was moved to a Twitter tirade by similar remarks from Mr Macron a week ago, when the French leader called nationalism a "betrayal of patriotism" while commemorating the end of World War One.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed tentative support for some of these ideas, but others are controversial in Berlin.

The French leader spoke of nationalist forces "with no memory", and urged progressive forces to unite in an uncertain world.

"There are too many powers that wish to thwart us, that interfere in our public debates, attack our liberal democracies and are trying to pit us against each other," he said. "And in this global order, which we have to take very seriously, our strength - our true strength - lies in unity."

US President Donald Trump was moved to a Twitter tirade by similar remarks from Mr Macron a week ago, when the French leader called nationalism a "betrayal of patriotism" while commemorating the end of World War One.

See more of this report from BBC News.