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French President Highlights Brexit Lesson to EU

French President, Emmanuel Macron released an open letter to the people of Europe, highlighting the Brexit lesson to the EU
French President, Emmanuel Macron released an open letter to the people of Europe, highlighting the Brexit lesson to the EU
French President, Emmanuel Macron released an open letter to the people of Europe, highlighting the Brexit lesson to the EU
French President, Emmanuel Macron released an open letter to the people of Europe, highlighting the Brexit lesson to the EU

Highlighting the importance of Europe and the need to remain united, French President, Emmanuel Macron released an open letter, directly addressing the people of Europe. He asserted that the Brexit has outlined a need for reform within the European Union. The letter comes weeks before Britain is expected to divorce from the EU

French President, Emmanuel Macron directly addressed the citizens of European nations through an open letter, reinforcing the value of the united Europe. Ahead of the upcoming European Union elections, President Macron asserted the need to learn from Brexit, whilst highlighting the requirement for a reform within the EU. He wrote, “Never since the second world war has Europe been so essential. Yet never has Europe been in such danger. Brexit stands as the symbol of that. It symbolises the crisis of a Europe that has failed to respond to its peoples’ need for protection from the major shocks of the modern world.”

Critiquing the nature of exploitative nationalism, President Macron asserted, “Who told the British people the truth about their post-Brexit future? Who spoke to them about losing access to the EU market? Who mentioned the risks to peace in Ireland of restoring the border? Retreating into nationalism offers nothing; it is rejection without an alternative. And this is the trap that threatens the whole of Europe: the anger mongers, backed by fake news, promise anything and everything.”

The French President went on to emphasise the value of the European Union. He argued that the union was not merely a historic success but is also what protects the European nations today. He urged the citizens to think about “What country can act on its own in the face of aggressive strategies by the major powers? Who can claim to be sovereign, on their own, in the face of the digital giants? How would we resist the crises of financial capitalism without the euro, which is a force for the entire EU?” Using the Brexit as an evident example, President Macron asserted that the EU was now being viewed as “soulless market” and hence there is a desperate need to make constant efforts to better the European Union. He wrote, “This struggle is a daily commitment, because Europe, like peace, can never be taken for granted.”

Concluding his letter with the need for renewal of the European Union, with “Freedom, Protection and Progress” at its centre, President Macron wrote, “We can’t let nationalists with no solutions exploit people’s anger”. He further added, “We can’t sleepwalk to a diminished Europe. We can’t remain in the routine of business as usual and wishful thinking. European humanism demands action. And everywhere, people are standing up to be part of that change.”

Outlining the significance of the upcoming EU elections, President Macron wrote, “By the end of the year, let’s set up, with representatives of the EU institutions and the member states, a Conference for Europe in order to propose all the changes our political project needs, which is open even to amending the EU treaties.”

The letter has come weeks before Britain’s scheduled departure from the European Union. British Prime Minister, Theresa May, is now looking at a possible Parliamentary vote for determining the relationship between UK and EU post Brexit. The Parliamentary vote on the matter, demanded by Labour Party MPs, is being viewed as PM May’s final attempt to secure an outcome that favours her Brexit deal, scheduled to be voted on next week.