The French president warns of growing threats from China, Russia and now the US, saying Europe faces a "wake-up call".

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to assert itself on the world stage, saying it is time to start acting like a “power”.

In the face of growing threats from China, Russia and now the US, he told a group of European newspapers that the continent faced a “wake-up call”.

"Are we ready to become a power? This is the question in the field of economy and finance, in defence and security, and in our democratic systems.

“In another era we might have said it is the moment to ‘assume our majority’,” he said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels later this week.

  • Lembot_0006English
    292·
    5 hours ago

    Does Europe have any power? If yes, then Ukraine is the perfect place to demonstrate it. Imagine how powerful 1 million artillery shells per month would look. A hundred tanks and planes per month would look powerful too. Thousand missiles per month might send the powerful message too.

    Talking and urging isn’t powerful.

    • arrrse@piefed.socialEnglish
      8·
      4 hours ago

      The problem with eu is 27 different nations who have their own agendas and goals and mostly everyone wants to keep it that way. Unlike russia and china and soon usa, EU is a democracy and in a democracy talking and urging is necessary. Its a shame that it’s come to this but im hoping that eu becomes a federation or something like that to maybe make it a bit more efficient and keep up / repel the others

      • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.clubEnglish
        2·
        1 hour ago

        The EU is comprised of sovereign entities, but those entities have chosen to give up certain competencies to the Union for various benefits. The EU already handles trade diplomacy and monetary policy through democratic institutions; it isn’t that hard to imagine that could also take on competencies related to defense.

        The EU also could share the competency of defense with the various nations. After all, there are other countries which have sub national entities that have their own militaries.

      • bufalo1973@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        1 hour ago

        I think the better way is a federation but not for everything. Only for diplomacy, defense and little more. At least as a first step. That way there’s no possibility of having an uberpressident that can do the same Trump is doing.

        • WaxRhetorical@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          30 minutes ago

          Essentially, united on foreign policy but not domestic (barring stuff like human rights)? Superficially it seems sensible enough.

      • Lembot_0006English
        4·
        4 hours ago

        I’m not against talking. I just point out that it is a shame that most activities are limited to talking.