On Sunday, Mr Macron met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to take part in Germany’s national remembrance day for the victims of war. At their second meeting in a week, the two leaders put on a show of unity against the rise of nationalism and populism in the era of Donald Trump. After a wreath-laying ceremony, the French leader addressed the German Parliament housed in the glass-domed Reichstag, where he urged EU governments to give up on significant parts of their own sovereignty.
Mr Macron added that “there are powers that attempt to pit us against each other”, in a veiled reference to China, Russia and even the US.
He again raised the idea of establishing a European army as a symbol of a united continent, claiming “Europe would never live up to its true role until it assumes full responsibility for its own affairs”.
He noted the EU would otherwise continue to “play a subordinate role in world politics”, and stated that Paris and Berlin must take on the responsibility to help Europe gain that “necessary sovereignty” and “not let the world slip into chaos”.
Mr Macron concluded his speech, saying: “Long live the Franco-German friendship.
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“Long live Europe.”
Mr Macron’s plan for an EU army and shared “responsibility” has nevertheless sparked huge criticism among European nationalists.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who leads the small Eurosceptic Debout La France party, poured scorn on President Macron’s claim that Europe needs to protect itself from China, Russia and the US.
He told French news channel BFMTV: “I am against the idea of a European army where Mrs Merkel is the one who decides who dies for their homeland.
“There will be no more French decisions; decision making will be shared.”
In comments that echoed Mr Dupont-Aignan’s fears, France’s former armed forces chief Pierre de Villiers expressed doubt over Mr Macron’s proposal, saying Europeans were not willing to die for Europe.
He told France Inter radio last week: “People die for a leader, they die to defend their ideas – but they won’t die for the European Union, at least not right away.”