French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Europe should prepare for new tensions with the United States and see the recent dispute over Greenland as a wake-up call to push through long-delayed economic reforms and strengthen the power of the European Union.
In interviews published in several European newspapers, Macron said Europe should not misconstrue the lull in relations with Washington as a permanent change, despite the apparent end to disputes over Greenland, trade and technology.
"When there is a clear act of aggression, I don't think we should cower or try to reach a settlement. We have been trying that strategy for months. It doesn't work," Macron said.
He supported the idea of new joint borrowing by EU countries, such as Eurobonds, which would finance strategic investments and allow the European Union to "challenge the hegemony of the dollar," Le Monde reports.
He described Donald Trump's administration as "openly anti-European", which seeks to "dismember" the European Union.
"The US will attack us in the coming months, there is no doubt about it, over digital regulation," Macron added, warning of the possibility of US tariffs on imports if the EU implements the Digital Services Act to control technology companies.
EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday for a summit to discuss measures to strengthen the Union's economy and its ability to confront the US and China on the global stage.
Bonus video:
