PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the French president’s Europe speech (all times local):
7 p.m.
Germany’s foreign minister is praising French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech as a “passionate argument against nationalism” and for European reforms.
Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement Tuesday that Macron highlighted key issues where Europe needs to find better common responses because national responses have been inadequate, like the management of external borders, security policies, strengthening of the eurozone and fighting climate change.
He says “only with common solutions can we inspire the people in Europe again about Europe.”
He added that beyond acknowledging the need for European solutions, “we also need the common European will” to implement them.
___
5:25 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed reinforcing the French-German partnership in order to give a new impetus to the European Union.
In a speech to European students in Paris, Macron said German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a “historic challenge,” in a reference to the rise of a far-right party in Germany’s election Sunday. He said he knows Merkel will have a “sense of history”.
He proposed France and Germany discuss his proposals to reform Europe even though he is aware the countries won’t agree on everything.
Macron wants to sign a new French-German cooperation treaty next January and proposed that the two aim to share business laws by 2024.
___
4:50 p.m.
Riot police are holding back a few dozen French students and activists protesting at the Sorbonne university where President Emmanuel Macron is giving a speech about the future of Europe.
Police with shields and batons outnumber the protesters in the historic Left Bank neighborhood, but the demonstration has been peaceful. Police vans line nearby streets.
The protesters are expressing anger at Macron’s pro-business labor policies, and the way he introduced them via executive orders instead of lengthy parliament debate.
The labor changes have prompted protests by unions and far-left groups.
Students from the Sorbonne and other universities in France and other European countries are inside for Macron’s speech.
___
4:35 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a joint budget for countries sharing the euro currency, to allow for investment in European projects and help stabilize the Eurozone in case of economic crisis.
In a speech about Europe’s future to students at the Sorbonne university in Paris, he said this budget could at first be financed by tougher taxes on internet giants and climate change-related taxes.
He added the budget would eventually need to come also from the national budgets of countries sharing the euro currency, for instance using domestic taxes on businesses.
___
4:25 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron says EU countries should tax internet giants where they make money and not where they are registered, as he pushes for tougher Europe-wide regulation of the online economy.
Macron said, “I believe deeply in this innovation economy,” but insisted that “we must have this debate” about making taxation more fair.
He proposed creating a single digital market, like other single EU markets, and a European “Disruption Innovation Agency” that could encourage European internet startups and finance research in artificial intelligence.
Macron made the proposals in a broad speech Tuesday aimed at reviving European unity.
___
4:05 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron is proposing a European asylum agency and standard EU identity documents to better handle migration flows.
In a sweeping speech on his vision for Europe, Macron said Tuesday that Europe must better protect its borders.
He suggested the asylum agency to speed up and harmonize migration procedures, after years of EU arguing over how many migrants to take in and where.
Macron also warned against the dangers of anti-immigrant nationalism, saying it goes against the principles of a shared Europe born from the tragedy of world wars.
After a far-right party entered the German parliament for the first time in 60 years, Macron said “we thought the past would not come back.” He said this isolationist attitude has resurfaced “because we forgot to defend Europe.”
___
4 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a shared European military intervention force and a shared defense budget.
In a speech Tuesday to students at the Sorbonne university in Paris, Macron said a European defense strategy must be defined by the early 2020s.
He wants to open the French military to European soldiers and proposed other EU member states do the same on a voluntary basis.
He also proposed the creation of a European intelligence academy to better fight against terrorism, and a shared civil protection force.
___
10:10 a.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron will lay out his vision for a more unified Europe, with a joint budget for countries sharing the euro currency and a stronger global voice despite Brexit looming.
Macron is seeking to make a lasting mark on Europe’s future with a speech Tuesday to students at the Sorbonne - and to send a clear message to neighboring Germany after its election Sunday.
While re-elected Chancellor Angela Merkel is open to some of Macron’s ideas, she is trying to build a coalition with allies who aren’t.
Macron is expected to argue that the eurozone needs a joint finance minister, budget and legislature to prevent future crises.
He says that’s necessary to boost Europe’s legitimacy and influence on global trade, taxing internet companies, migration policy and climate change.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.