‘Europe could die’: France’s Macron calls on EU members to enhance defenses

French President Emmanuel Macron has sounded the alarm for Europe, warning that if it remained dependent on the United States and failed to put advanced defenses in place, European nations could die.

"There is a risk our Europe could die. We are not equipped to face the risks," Macron said in his speech at the left-leaning Sorbonne University in Paris on Thursday.

He called on the fragmented 27-nation European Union to make a reunified effort to build a "credible" military force to allow it to manifest itself to others as a "powerful Europe".

“It depends solely on our choices but these choices must be made now” because “over the next decade (...) the risk is immense of being weakened or even relegated,” he insisted.

Macron speaks out, sparks controversy in ranks of EU

The French president has said his country still backed the "status quo" on the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Macron said the Europeans were under the siege of great powers,that undermined European “liberal democracy” values.

He said European values were being “increasingly criticized” and “contested” by others.

“The risk is that Europe will experience a decline and we are already starting to see this despite all our efforts.”

He noted there had been no progress and advancement towards creating an independent military force, saying building one was taking too long.

“We are still too slow, not ambitious enough,” he complained, urging EU member state leaders to pursue a “powerful Europe” which “enforces its respect”, “ensures its security” and regains “its strategic autonomy”.

In a geopolitical context weighed down by the war in Ukraine, he announced that he would invite the Europeans to adopt a "strategic concept" of "credible European defense", mentioning in passing the possibility for it to equip itself with an anti-missile shield.

Macron claimed that being a NATO member did not mean being a "vassal" state of the United States.  

He said by building its own "credible" defenses, the EU continent would be less dependent on the United States and better able to face the threat posed by Russia.

In his wide-ranging speech, which lasted nearly two hours (just 10 minutes short), the self-described "man of the left" who also claims to be a "liberal" at the same time, also touched on parental issues, urging EU parents to control their children's access to various internet content.

He insisted that the use of social networks by EU children who were under 15 should be subjected to parental guidance. "Before 15 years of age, there should be parental control on access to this digital space."

"If the content isn't checked, this access produces all kinds of risks and mental distortions, which can justify all kinds of hatred."

Hundreds of French protesters, as young as 12, awaiting trial

The French judiciary is working without pause to put hundreds of arrested protesters behind bars with quick-fire trials of teens, some, as young as 12 years of age.

In 2023, social media played a major role in the unrest following the French police killing of a 17-year-old boy named Nahel Merzouk during a traffic stop.

The police killing triggered protest marches and nights of disorder, with riots spreading across cities in France.

Alongside the heavy-handed police crackdown on riots, the government held parents responsible for their children.

France imposed tough measures on rioters' parents, punishing them for the misdoings of children.

Back then, Macron blamed what he called “poor parenting” as part of the reason why protesting teens had taken to the streets.

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