French President's Warning on Anti-Immigration Nationalism

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, warned on Tuesday, September 25, about the danger of anti-immigration nationalism, stating that this issue contradicts the fundamental and shared principles of the European Union, which was established by learning from the horrors of World War II. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Macron, in a speech about the future of Europe to students at the Sorbonne University in Paris, reacted to the entry of far-right forces into the German parliament after 60 years, saying, "We thought the past would not return." He added that this isolationist policy has revived because "we forgot to defend Europe." In another part of his speech, the French President called for the European Union to have a common military force and a joint defense budget, adding that Europe's defense strategy should be determined quickly, by the early 2020s at the latest. According to the report, he stated that he intends to open the doors of the French army to citizens of other European countries and added that other European countries should voluntarily implement the same approach. Emmanuel Macron also suggested establishing a European intelligence-security training school to better combat terrorism and for member countries to share their civilian defense capabilities. He also proposed the establishment of a common European asylum office for better control of the immigration wave, and for the documentation of these asylum seekers to be standardized across the European Union. Mr. Macron emphasized that Europe must better protect its borders than in the past. According to the Associated Press, after years of disagreements among European countries regarding the number and location of asylum seekers, the French President suggested that the common European asylum office coordinate and expedite the regulations and administrative procedures related to asylum seekers. In this speech, outlining his public views on the future of Europe, he emphasized the necessity of a common budget for Eurozone countries. He stressed that strengthening Europe's legitimacy and influence globally is essential, and this will be achieved through greater integration within the European Union, including in financial, budgetary, and defense policies. The French President also proposed a common budget for Eurozone countries to enable investment in European projects and to create stability in the event of an economic crisis in the Eurozone. Emmanuel Macron stated that this budget could initially be funded through stricter taxes on large new technology companies and taxes related to climate change. He added that ultimately, part of this common budget should come from the national budgets of Eurozone countries, for example, from taxes on domestic economic activities in these countries. The French President defended broader regulations for monitoring the activities of large internet companies, stating that these companies should be taxed in the country where they operate, not in the countries where they are registered. Mr. Macron added, "I deeply believe in this innovative economy," but emphasized, "We must discuss how to make taxation fairer." He suggested creating a common digital market, similar to other aspects of the European common market, and supporting inventions and innovations in the internet space at the European level, as well as investing in artificial intelligence.