Macro: Dear Europe, Brex is a lesson for all of us; it's time for renewal

Citizens of Europe, if I am taking the initiative to address them directly, it is not only in the name of history and values that unite us, but because time is essential. In a few weeks, European elections will be crucial to the future of our continent. Since World War II, Europe has never been so essential. Yet, he has never been in such danger. Brexit stands as a symbol of this. It symbolises the crisis of a Europe that has failed to respond to the people's need to be protected from the major shocks of the modern world. It also symbolizes the European trap. The trap does not lie in being part of the European Union; the trap is in a lie and irresponsible that can destroy it. Who told the British people the truth about the future after Brex? Who told them about losing access to the EU market? Who mentioned the dangers of peace in Ireland in restoring the border? The transition to nationalism offers nothing; it is rejection without an alternative. And this is the trap that threatens all of Europe: it adds anger, supported by false news, that promises nothing and everything.

We must stay strong, proud and clear, in the face of this manipulation and first say what Europe really is. It is a historic success: The reconciliation of a ruined continent is an unprecedented project of peace, prosperity and freedom. Let us never forget that. And this project continues to protect us today. What country can act separately in the face of aggressive strategies from the main powers? Who can claim to be sovereign, himself, in front of digital giants? How will we resist financial capitalism crises without the euro, which is a force for the whole EU? Part of Europe is also those thousands of daily projects that have changed the face of our regions: renovated schools, built roads and high-speed internet. This war is a daily commitment, because Europe, like peace, can never be taken for granted. I follow him tirelessly in the name of France so that I can move Europe forward and defend its model. We have shown that the things that were said were unattainable, the creation of a European defence skill and social rights protection were actually possible.

We have to do more and more because there is another trap: traping the status quo and giving up. Facing major crises in the world, citizens often ask: where is Europe? What is Europe doing? For them it has become a heartless market.

However, Europe is not just an economic market. It's a project. A market is useful, but there is no need for boundaries to protect and the values that unite. Nationalists are mistaken when they claim to defend our identity by withdrawing from the EU, because it is European civilization that unites us, releases us and protects us. But those who will not change anything are also wrong because they deny the fear felt by our people, suspicions that harm our democracies. We are at a crucial moment for our continent, a moment when together we need to renew politically and culturally the shape of our civilization in a changing world. Now is the time for a European rebirth. Hence, resisting the temptation to isolation and partition, I propose that we build this together about three ambitions - freedom, defence, and progress.

Protecting Our Freedom

The European model is based on freedom - human, diversity of thought and creation. Our first freedom is democratic freedom: freedom to choose our leaders as foreign powers seek to influence our votes in any election. I propose the establishment of a European Agency for the Protection of Democracy for each EU member state to provide European experts to protect their election process against cyber attacks and manipulation. In this spirit of independence, we must stop funding European political parties from foreign powers. We must have European rules to avoid inciting hatred and violence from the internet, as respect for the individual is the foundation of our civilization and dignity.

Protecting our continent

Founded on internal reconciliation, The EU has forgotten the realities of the world. However, no community can create a sense of belonging if there are no protected territorial boundaries. The border is freedom in security. Therefore, we must review the Schengen area -- all who want to be part of it must meet responsibilities (strong border controls) and solidarity (a single policy for asylum with common rules of accession and rejection).

We will need a joint border force and a European asylum office, strict European control and solidarity, in which each country will contribute under the authority of the European Council for Internal Security. As for migration, I believe in a Europe that protects its values and borders.

The same standards must be applied to protection. The considerable progress has been done in the last two years, but we must set a clear course. A treaty on defence and security should determine our fundamental obligations in co-operation with NATO and our European allies: increasing defence spending, a genuine clause of mutual protection and a European security council, with Great Britain on board, to prepare our collective decisions.

Our borders should also guarantee fair competition. What country in the world will continue to trade with those who do not respect any of their rules? We cannot suffer in silence. We need to reform our competition policy and reform our trade policy, penalise or stop businesses that compromise our strategic interests and fundamental values such as environmental standards, protection of data and fair tax payment; and adopting the European platform in strategic industries and our public procurement, as do our American and Chinese competitors.

Resurrection to the Soul of Progress

Europe is not a second-level power. It in its entirety is a force in the forefront: it has always set the standards of progress. In this, Europe must advance a convergence project more than that of competition: Europe, where social security has been created, must present a social shield to all workers, guaranteeing the same salary for the same job and a minimum EU wage for each country, collectively negotiated each year.

Reintroduction on the right track also means moving forward to environmental care. Will we be able to see our children face to face if we fail to announce our climate debt? The EU must set its target of zero carbon by 2050 and pesticides to be halved by 2025 ʹ and adjust its policies to such measures as the creation of a European Bank for Climate to finance ecological transition, a European food security force to improve our food controls, measures against lobbies, independent scientific assessment of environmental and health substances. This initiative should guide all of our actions: from the Central Bank to the European Commission, from the European budget to the Investment Plan for Europe, all our institutions should have the climate as their mandate.

Progress and freedom means being able to live from everyone's work: Europe must look forward to creating jobs. That is why it needs not only to regulate digital giants by placing European supervision of major digital platforms (swift punishments for unfair competition, transparent algorithms etc.), but also to finance innovation by giving the new European Council of Invention a budget on the same level as the United States in order to advance new technological results, such as artificial intelligence.

A world-oriented Europe should look to Africa, with which we have to negotiate an agreement on future African development with investments, academic partnerships and education for girls.

Freedom, defence and progress: we must build European renewal on these pillars. We cannot allow nationalists without solutions to exploit people's anger. We can't sleep in a reduced Europe. We cannot stay in the daily routine with the idea that it's a routine day like all the others. European humanity requires action. And everywhere, people have moved on to be part of this change. So, by the end of the year, let's bring in, with representatives of EU institutions and member states, a Conference on Europe, in order to propose all the changes needed for our political project, also open to changing EU treaties. This conference should engage citizens' panels and listen to academics, business representatives and workers, as well as religious and spiritual leaders. It will define an EU guide that translates these key priorities into concrete actions. There will be disagreements, but is it better to have a static Europe or a progressive Europe, sometimes at different speeds, and this is open to everyone? In this Europe, people will take control of their future.

In this Europe, Great Britain, I'm sure, will find its real place. Brex sound is a lesson for all of us. We need to get out of this trap and make the next choices and our meaningful project. It is up to you to decide whether Europe and the values of progress it embodys should be more than just a passing episode in history. That's the choice I give them: together we set the way for European renewal.

France President Emmanuel Macron's opinion published by The Guardian. /tch/