Europe must not become a vassal of the United States, France's President Emmanuel Macron says, as he appeals for stronger, more integrated defences on the continent and outlines his vision for a more assertive European Union.
With just three years left of his second and final term in office, and having lost his parliamentary majority in 2022, Macron, 46, wants to show his critics that he retains the energy and fresh thinking that helped propel him into the presidency in 2017 and that he has not become a lame duck leader.
"There is a risk our Europe could die," Macron said on Thursday in a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, warning that military, economic, trade and other pressures could weaken and fragment the 27-nation EU.
"We are not equipped to face the risks."
Macron said Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine and called for a boost in Europe's cybersecurity capacity, closer defence ties with post-Brexit Britain, and the creation of a European academy to train high-ranking military personnel.
"There is no defence without a defence industry ... we've had decades of under-investment," he said, adding that Europeans should give preference to buying European military equipment.
"We must produce more, we must produce faster, and we must produce as Europeans," he said.
Emmanuel Macron has called for a more assertive EU in a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris. (AP PHOTO)
Macron said Europe risked falling behind economically in a context where global free-trade rules were being challenged by major competitors, and called for a reduction in red tape on small and medium-sized businesses.
The French leader hopes his speech will have the same impact as a similar address at the Sorbonne he made seven years ago that prefigured some significant EU policy shifts.
Since then, much has changed, with major geopolitical challenges including the war in Gaza, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and growing China-US tensions.
Thursday's speech was billed by Macron's advisers as France's contribution to the EU's strategic agenda for the next five years.Â
The agenda is due to be decided after the European elections, when EU leaders will haggle over the bloc's top jobs.
Macron has seen his personal popularity tumble, while his centrist Renaissance party is trailing the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) in polls ahead of the June 6-9 European Parliament elections.
In another challenge for Macron, his group Renew - the third-biggest in the European Parliament - could fall to fourth place, polls show, which would further limit his influence.