Macron Urges Europe to Reform Fast as He Warns of New Friction With the United States

Post by : Saif Nasser

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Europe should prepare for more tension with the United States and should not assume that recent calm signals mean problems are over. He said the European Union must treat recent disputes — which he called a “Greenland moment” — as a serious wake-up call and use it to push long-delayed reforms that can make Europe stronger and more independent.

Speaking in interviews with several European newspapers, Macron said relations with Washington may become more difficult in the months ahead. He pointed to disagreements over trade, digital rules, and security issues. He argued that Europe has spent too much time reacting to events instead of preparing itself for a more competitive and divided global system.

Macron’s warning comes just before an EU leaders’ summit set to take place in Belgium. He wants leaders to use this meeting to move faster on economic and financial reforms. In his view, Europe must build more internal strength so it can stand firm when dealing with both the United States and China.

He described the current global environment as a double pressure point for Europe. On one side, he said, China is pushing hard in global trade and industry. On the other side, he described U.S. policy under President Donald Trump as unstable and often unfriendly toward European interests. Macron claimed that parts of the current U.S. approach are openly anti-European and aimed at weakening EU unity.

One major area of concern is digital regulation. The European Union has passed strict rules to control large technology companies and online platforms. Macron believes the United States may push back strongly against these laws, especially if American tech giants are affected. He warned that trade penalties or tariffs could be used as pressure if Europe enforces its digital laws too firmly.

According to Macron, Europe should not respond by stepping back. Instead, he said the bloc should stay confident and apply its rules fairly. He argued that giving in to outside pressure has not worked well in recent months and has only encouraged more demands.

The French president also repeated his long-standing call for deeper financial unity inside the EU. He wants member countries to consider more joint borrowing to fund large projects in defense, technology, and green energy. Europe used shared debt once before during the COVID-19 crisis to support recovery. But turning that tool into a permanent system has faced resistance, especially from more cautious northern European countries that worry about shared financial risk.

Macron is also promoting a “Made in Europe” approach. This idea would encourage more local production and set minimum European content levels for some goods made and sold inside the bloc. Supporters say this would protect key industries and jobs. Critics worry it could raise prices and trigger trade disputes.

He tried to draw a line between what he calls “protection” and classic protectionism. In his words, Europe should prefer its own strategic industries without closing the door to fair global trade. The goal, he says, is resilience — the ability to survive shocks and pressure — not isolation.

From an editorial point of view, Macron’s message is about urgency. He is telling Europe that the world is changing quickly and that old habits are no longer enough. Whether all EU members agree with his methods is another question, but his central warning is clear: Europe must act more like a united power, or it risks being pushed around by bigger players.