French President Emmanuel Macron visited Sweden on Tuesday, where he met with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and delivered a speech at the University of Stockholm. In his address, Macron outlined his vision for a more competitive and innovative Europe, which he said requires less regulation and more flexibility.
Macron argued that the European Union should focus on its strategic priorities, such as the green transition, digital transformation, security and defense, and social cohesion. He said that the EU should not impose unnecessary rules or standards on its member states, but rather allow them to experiment and adapt to their specific contexts.
He praised Sweden as a model of a successful social market economy, which combines high levels of innovation, productivity and welfare with low levels of public debt and unemployment. He said that France and Sweden share common values and interests and called for a closer cooperation between the two countries.
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Macron also addressed the challenges posed by the rise of populism, nationalism and authoritarianism in Europe and beyond. He said that the EU should defend its democratic values and principles and promote multilateralism and cooperation in the international arena. He warned against the temptation of isolationism or protectionism, which he said would only weaken Europe and its partners.
Macron’s visit to Sweden was part of his European tour, which aims to build support for his ambitious reform agenda for the EU. He has already visited Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, and plans to visit other countries in the coming months. He hopes to convince his European counterparts to join him in a common project to revitalize the European project and prepare it for the future.
The European Union (EU) is facing multiple challenges in the 21st century, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, migration, populism, and geopolitical tensions. To address these issues and strengthen its role as a global actor, the EU needs a comprehensive reform agenda that can foster its economic, social, and political integration.
First, the EU needs to enhance its fiscal capacity and coordination to support the recovery and resilience of its member states and regions. The Next Generation EU fund, which allocates 750 billion euros for public investment and reforms, is a historic step in this direction. However, it should not be a one-off initiative, but rather a permanent feature of the EU budget.
Moreover, the EU should adopt a common fiscal framework that can ensure fiscal sustainability and convergence across the bloc, as well as a common debt instrument that can reduce borrowing costs and increase market confidence.
Second, the EU needs to deepen its single market and digital transformation to boost its competitiveness and innovation. The single market is one of the EU’s greatest achievements, but it still faces barriers and gaps in areas such as services, energy, transport, and capital. The EU should remove these obstacles and create a level playing field for all businesses and consumers.
Furthermore, the EU should invest more in digital infrastructure and skills, as well as in research and development, to foster its technological sovereignty and leadership. The Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act are important steps to regulate the digital economy and protect the rights of users.
Third, the EU needs to strengthen its social dimension and cohesion to reduce inequalities and promote inclusion. The EU should implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, which sets out 20 principles for fair and decent working and living conditions.
The EU should also adopt a minimum wage directive that can ensure adequate income for all workers, as well as a social protection floor that can guarantee access to basic services for all citizens. Moreover, the EU should enhance its solidarity mechanisms for dealing with migration and asylum, based on a fair sharing of responsibility and a humane approach.
Fourth, the EU needs to reinforce its green transition and climate action to achieve its ambitious goals of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The EU should implement the European Green Deal, which is a comprehensive strategy for transforming its economy and society in a sustainable way.
The EU should also increase its international cooperation and leadership on climate change, by supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement and promoting a global green recovery.
Fifth, the EU needs to revitalize its democratic institutions and processes to enhance its legitimacy and accountability. The EU should reform its electoral system to make it more representative and participatory, by introducing transnational lists, lowering the voting age to 16, and expanding the use of online voting.
The EU should also empower its citizens’ participation and dialogue, by supporting initiatives such as the Conference on the Future of Europe, which aims to involve citizens in shaping the EU’s priorities and vision. Moreover, the EU should uphold its values and rule of law, by enforcing its mechanisms for monitoring and sanctioning breaches by member states.
These are some of the main elements of a reform agenda for the EU that can help it overcome its current challenges and prepare for its future opportunities. By pursuing this agenda, the EU can become more resilient, competitive, inclusive, sustainable, and democratic.