Macron calls for 鈥楨uropean renaissance鈥� in open letter
President Emmanuel Macron has written an open letter entitled 鈥淎 European renaissance鈥�, in which he has called for a 鈥渕ore united Europe鈥� over the issues of protection, freedom, and progress.
The open letter is to be published by several media outlets in France, and is also online on and .
President Macron's official Twitter account has also tweeted the letter translated in most major European languages.
The letter calls for a 鈥渟tronger, more united continent鈥�, which would offer 鈥渕ore protection, more freedom, and more progress鈥�, and said that "since the Second World War, Europe has never been so necessary".
Free movement and fair economy
The President called for a 鈥渞eset of the Schengen zone and the free movement of people鈥�, a common border police agency, and a united European asylum office.
He also called for a united economic front, saying: 鈥淥ur borders must ensure fair competition. We must sanction or forbid any companies in Europe that would seek to attack our strategic interests and our key values.鈥� The President then referred to 鈥渆nvironmental norms鈥�, data protection, and fair taxation.
Protection from foreign power
Mr Macron said that he did not want Europe to 鈥渟ubmit to foreign powers鈥�, and called for a ban on European political parties being supported by foreign funds.
He called for a 鈥淓uropean democratic protection agency鈥� that would protect elections in each European member state from 鈥渃yber-attacks鈥� and 鈥渕anipulation鈥�. He said: 鈥淓uropean rules should ban all discussions of hatred and violence from the Internet.鈥�
Pay and climate change
The President mentioned equal pay, and said that workers should receive the same levels of remuneration for the same job at the same company, regardless of location in Europe.
He also referred to climate change, and said he would accept nothing less than a zero-carbon France by 2050, and a reduction by half of pesticide use by 2025.
European debate and Brexit
Mr Macron called for a 鈥渃onference for Europe鈥�, and suggested that a similar process to his national 鈥�Grand D茅bat鈥� should be extended to the whole of the EU. This conference would allow the discussion of all topics, he said, including even the revisiting of existing treaties.
The President added that the subject of Brexit was 鈥渁t an impasse鈥�, and said that France and Europe would never 鈥渟hut the door on the British鈥�.
He said: 鈥淚n this Europe, the people will really have taken back control of their destiny. In this Europe, the United Kingdom will - I am sure - find its place.鈥�
Mr Macron suggested that a 鈥淓uropean security council working with the United Kingdom鈥� could help Europe to make 鈥渏oint decisions鈥� when it comes to defence and border protection.
