Emmanuel Macron : Some should understand that Europe is not their supermarket. You can't just grab money. Factory jobs offshored to poland, subsidies, and now you expect me to tell my French citizens that corporations will replace them with underpaid Poland workers on our own french territory ?

Quick translation! Title NOT editorialized, he says that in the article.

  • Foreign policy Europe has a place on the world scene to reduce inequalities and fight for freedom, the environment and against islamic terrorism. Macron fully believes in the franco-german partnership and wants to go back to the times of Mitterand and Kohl's cooperation.

Now the quote that is contentious and its context: About the countries that do not abide by the EU rules, Macron says "Europe is not a supermarket, the countries that do not respect the rules must face full political consequences. This is not only a west-east debate. I will talk to anyone and everyone and with respect, but I will never compromise on Europe's principles, on solidarity and democratic values.

[About detached workers' policy] The great defenders of this ultraliberal and unbalanced EU have broken their teeth on it. The Brexit was swayed by the problematic of eastern european workers occupying british jobs. Detached work leads to ridiculous situations. You think that I can explain to french middle class that companies are closing in France to relocate to Poland because it's cheaper and that here, at home, the construction companies hire polish workers because they are payed less? This system is not right.

  • Military Macron wants a self-reliant Europe (that can defend itself) with a common defence and security policy, that is able to defend its external borders, cooperate efficiently against terrorism. 2% of GDP target for 2025 [and not 2024 as per agreed by NATO].

  • Immigration Common organization for immigration and asylum policy. Macron believes in Schengen, as for him it is an important part of European Citizenship. He wants to reduce the procedure length in France as he believes we owe the refugees hospitality and "humanity" (ie. dignity), and quickly boosts the funding of the european coast guards and border guards agencies so they are able to handle possible crisis.

  • Syria Two red lines. Strikes on Syria will happen if it is proven Assad's regime uses chemical weapons. The other red line is humanitarian access. Macron reaffirms that he doesn't believe deposing Assad to be a priority because he hasn't been presented with a suitable alternative. Believes Lybia was a mistake, but non-intervention in Irak was the right call.

/r/europe Thread Link - tempsreel.nouvelobs.com