The Strategist

French Finance Minister calls for a new empire in Europe



04/03/2019 - 12:35



It is supposedly necessary for Europe to create a new “empire” in order to resist domination on the part of China and the United States.



Chatham House via flickr
Chatham House via flickr
Minister of Economy and Finance of France Bruno Le Maire calls for creation of “an empire not of domination”, but somehow “peaceful”, that would unite the EU countries in opposition to the Chinese project One Belt, One Road, as well as actions of the US administration within President Donald Trump’s course  "America first".

This slogan, according to the Financial Times, was voiced by the French minister when he presented his book The New Empire: Europe in the 21st Century.

Le Maire said that an empire in Europe is necessary in view of the manifest risks of vassalisation, as well as economic and technological domination of the continent by other states.

At the same time, according to Minister, the exit of Great Britain from the EU showed that "the European project is vulnerable."

It is worth noting that over the past few years, Germany and France, represented by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who have lost a large share of support in their countries, and French President Emmanuel Macro have already advocated strengthening of ties within the European Union. Heads of these countries and the supranational leadership of the EU - the European Commission - have already called for the need to create a "pan-European army" and reduce dependence on the US in the military and technological spheres.

Head of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi also called for closer financial ties in the EU. However, so far the situation hasn’t noticeably shifted from calls for real action. France and Germany announced creation of a fighter of a new generation, but so far the announced project has no definite terms and forecasts for “achieving operational readiness by 2040”.

Nationalistic sentiments have been gaining momentum within the EU and the euro zone in recent years: politicians in power in countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Italy are quite skeptical of the calls to “rally together in the name of Europe” and participate in any “new empire” against the United States and China.

source: ft.com