Macron lays out agenda for a 'powerful' Europe

PARIS－President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Thursday that France would work toward a strong and "sovereign" European Union when it takes over the bloc's rotating presidency in January, a six-month mandate that coincides with the French presidential election.

The centrist Macron, who portrays himself as a champion of democracy against populism, may fill the leadership gap in Europe with the departure of former German chancellor Angela Merkel, analysts said.

But Macron, who was elected in 2017 demanding reform in both France and Europe, will also face a battle to be reelected in April even though he remains the overwhelming favorite.

Macron is expected to run in April's two-round election, and France's rotating six-month presidency of the European Council starts Jan 1.

In a rare sit-down meeting with media in Paris, Macron told reporters over a 3-hours-long news conference that France's aim is "to move toward a Europe that is powerful in the world, fully sovereign, free in its choices and in charge of its own destiny".

"Faced with all these crises that are hitting Europe, many people would like to rely only on the nation state. These nations are our strength, our pride, but European unity is their indispensable complement," he said.

"We must act like Europeans, we must think like Europeans."

He also called for new mechanisms to protect the EU's borders, with thousands of migrants gathering on the border between Belarus and Poland in recent months.

Europe "needs to ensure the protection of its borders", he said, adding that France would push for reform of the Schengen area for passport-free travel of 26 countries in Europe.

Macron, who was due to meet Germany's new Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, also said the EU should reconsider its strict budget deficit rules as governments spend heavily to save their economies from the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

France will push for a "rethink" of rules that include a demand for deficits to remain below 3 percent of GDP, he said.

Turning to environmental issues, Macron said France would propose a new EU mechanism to prevent imports of agricultural products from deforested areas when Paris takes over the European Council leadership next year.

"We will also advance negotiations on the creation of a European instrument to fight against imported deforestation which will aim to ban imports of soya, beef, palm oil, cocoa and coffee to the EU when they have contributed to deforestation," Macron said.

France will host an extraordinary EU summit on March 10 and 11 in Paris, just a month before the presidential election.

Macron also accused British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government of failing to keep its word on Brexit, but said he was willing to reengage in good faith.

Agencies via Xinhua