Macron calls for a revision of the Schengen system
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French President Emmanuel Macron has made an impassioned defence of a new Europe in a newspaper column published in each of the 28 member states in which he laid out his ideas for a “European renaissance” ahead of EU elections in May.
Calling the May election a decisive one and warning of a Europe in danger. Words intended as a wake-up call for the bloc as he seeks to push fundamental reform of the European Union.
A number of proposals made in the column aim at protecting and defending Europe’s citizens while giving the bloc new impetus in the face of global competition.
Amongst Macron’s proposals is a revision of the Schengen system and creating a common border police and European asylum office. The French President also urged a ban on companies that threaten European strategic interests and called for a type of Europe first policy as America and China have done.
Macron’s proposals include creating a European agency to protect democracies which would provide experts to safeguard elections from manipulation and a ban on financing by foreign powers of European political parties.
The French leader is focussed on championing a “Europe that protects” for the May 26 European election as he seeks to convince voters with plans aimed at reforming Europe’s trade, competition, digital and climate policies, including creating a European climate bank to finance the ecological transition.
As part of efforts to convince European citizens not to back nationalists, Macon also urged for European institutions and states to take part in a “Conference for Europe” by year-end. Its objective would be to propose changes to the bloc’s political project including reviewing existing treaties.
