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MACRON’S GOAL FOR THE EU: MAKE EUROPEANS PROUD AGAIN
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European Parliament not to be overtaken by it.
Macron’s European policy is to be understood in
this mid-term perspective.
Through his European policy, he does not
only want to deliver some results of what a
“Europe that protects” brings but, more deeply,
also address the existential crisis the EU is going
through. To reverse the tide of nationalism and
various sorts of populism, who have taken a
hostile stance towards the EU, his position to
take on purpose an opposite tone, as developed
during his presidential campaign. He is not
ashamed of the EU, neither negative, defensive
or silent about it but, on the contrary, he shows
himself proud of it. He considers the best way to
contain anti-EU sentiments from spreading is to
be pro-EU in a very offensive manner. This is
what makes Macron’s European policy unique in
the history of the French presidents since the
beginning of the European construction.
His policy therefore also focuses on symbols,
wording, slogans such as
Bruxelles, c’est nous
(Brussels means all of us). It was his personal
idea to play the EU’s
Hymn to Joy
on the eve of
his election at the Louvre plaza in Paris. He also
announced last October that France would of-
ficially recognize the EU flag, whose presence in
the National Assembly (the French lower house)
was mocked by his main political opponent,
Jean-Luc Mélenchon. For his first speech on
Europe, before the Sorbonne, he chose the sce-
nic view of Athens, best-known symbol of de-
mocracy, in order to show that democratic val-
ues are on the side of EU contenders, not among
the nationalists. When using the word sover-
eignty on EU matters, he challenges those who
claim it to be only national.
But Macron’s main offensive before the
European elections is yet to come. His idea of
launching “citizens’ consultations” this year in
all willing EU states – 26 total as today – is
meant to popularize EU affairs, who have be-
come regarded as reserved, understandable and
designed for the elite. This one-of-a-kind demo-
cratic debate is an attempt to find a third way
between closed-doors Brussels diplomatic ne-
gotiations and referendums, most often used
for internal political purposes. The aim here is to
have a bottom-up approach on European affairs
and make it an issue for an open debate, with-
out clearly stating how its unpredictable out-
come will be used. It will anyhow set the frame-
work of the campaign for the European elections
following. The success of what was first drafted
as “democratic conventions” depends on how
seriously they will be considered by its partici-
pants. The challenge for the French president is
to “demacronize” the process, suspected of be-
ing conducted for himself.
The fact his other idea of creating transna-
tional lists to elect MEPs had not been “dema-
cronized” enough before it was submitted to
the European Parliament on February 7 explains
why it was defeated by French right-wing MEPs
from the European Popular Party. But one can
bet the Elysée will try again in 2024 to create
such transnational lists, which are thought as a
way to Europeanize more the election of the
European Parliament. This idea as well as the
“citizens’ consultations” are part of Macron’s
experiences he wishes to carry out in order to
change the mindset and attitude of Europeans
towards the EU.
Emmanuel Macron is passionate when it
comes to Europe. He will deliver more speeches
throughout his mandate. His objective is to de-
liver some concrete results showing that Europe
– or at least some countries within the EU – pro-
tects ordinary citizens worried about the pace of
globalisation and of migration and
en même
temps
addressing the need to foster a sense of
European identity and belonging to a common