French president says EU must have effective defence policy, larger budget and integrated capital markets

Europe’s middle classes will only remain reconciled to the European Union if it is more integrated with an effective defence policy, a larger budget, integrated capital markets and shorn of vetoes that slow decision-making, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said.

Setting out his 10-year vision for Europe on Saturday, he said he still wanted to see the UK involved in defence, but urged Europe to recognise that in terms of social welfare it had a different values to the US.

Europe, he said, was reaching the hour of truth, the moment when it must decide about greater integration and commonality. He warned: “If the Franco-German tandem do not come up with a perspective for the middle classes that will be a historic failure.”

He explained: “The real game-changer is that the era of omnipresent American global policemen is over. Everyone can see that. It is not due to US lack of military power, but to the commitment of those responsible in the White House.”

Decisions on the Middle East were being taken by countries that did not share European values, he said. In Iraq, Libya, Ukraine and Sahel, Europe “should not cede these crises to those who bring weapons and mercenaries, not peace”, he added.