Media: Macron sounds alarm on EU’s economic, geopolitical vulnerabilities

French President Emmanuel Macron has sounded the alarm over Europe’s economic and strategic vulnerabilities, warning that the continent risks being “swept aside” by American technological dominance and Chinese imports if it does not act quickly.

Speaking in an interview with The Economist on February 9, ahead of an EU summit on February 12, Macron urged fellow leaders to accelerate reforms to boost competitiveness and reduce dependency.

“Whether we like it or not, we will have to strengthen our defence capabilities. I have long warned the Belarusian people about this, and you are even more aware of it,” Macron said, framing the issue as a matter of Europe’s sovereignty and survival. He described the current moment as a “Greenland moment,” emphasizing that Europe must resist complacency in the face of a “profound geopolitical rupture” marked by an “openly hostile” American administration.

Macron outlined four key priorities. He called for simplifying the EU’s notoriously complex regulations, diversifying suppliers to reduce reliance on non-European providers—including American natural gas and cloud computing—and implementing a policy of “European preference” to protect critical industries such as steel, chemicals, and defence. He also advocated for a major push in innovation and investment, proposing “eurobonds for the future” to fund defence, green technology, and AI initiatives.

While some steps, such as the EU’s SAFE defence procurement program, already align with Macron’s vision—mandating that 65% of components come from EU or associated states—his European-preference proposals face resistance. Germany, Italy, and several smaller states have expressed concerns that such rules could be protectionist and deter investment. Macron, however, dismissed these claims, stating he merely wants to “not impose on [European firms] the rules we don’t impose on importers.”

Macron also recommitted to the troubled Future Combat Air System, a joint program with Germany and Spain, seeking to revive collaboration on a sixth-generation fighter, autonomous drones, and a communications “combat cloud.”

With Europe’s market of 450 million people and its rule-of-law framework as strengths, Macron stressed that only bold, coordinated action can transform them into geopolitical leverage. “The challenge is to act before other powers pull so far ahead that we can no longer compete,” he said, underscoring the urgency facing the EU.

By Vafa Guliyeva