Thread by @GeorginaEWright

.@EmmanuelMacron is about to deliver at speech @GLOBSEC on France's vision for European security. I'll be tweeting thoughts #GLOBSEC2023 :

(He's running late - quelle surprise.. but does give me time to question my decision to live-tweet. Macron speeches tend to be v, v long)

Robert Vass, head of @GLOBSEC, thanks Macron for 1) being there - shows France's willingness to (re)engage with region; 2) for playing a role in Ukraine's enlargement and support to Ukraine; 3) European Political Community. Now over to Macron..

Macron begins. Ukraine war is not only about future of Ukraine, future of Central Europe but also about future of European continent & peace. Important sequence : European political community, NATO Vilnius summit.

Macron: there is no 'old' and 'new' Europe. Only ONE Europe that wants to be united and shared a common story ('récit commun'). For too long, we have not listened enough to our CEE partners ('not lost an opportunity to speak', but 'lost an opportunity to listen')

Macron: now talking abt Russia's aims (more than abt invading Ukraine). We didn't have a coherent approach toward our Eastern friends: didn't offer secure enough guarantees to Ukraine & Georgia (NATO and EU).

Macron: what's happening in Ukraine isn't just about peace in Europe ('a European question') but about whole international order (aka respect of international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity). 🚨 Ukraine "will not be conquered".

Macron questions Russia's place in international system given it has ignored and contravened UN Charter. Doesn't have its place.

Macron: 🚨In 2019, I had a 'severe sentence' about NATO calling it braindead. I can now say that Putin has "woken it [NATO] up with electric shots". (I think that's what I said).

Macron: EU has also played an important role in supporting Ukraine. But all this collective effort can only work if it's long-term.

Macron: we must continue to help Ukraine. Reiterates his message at G7: we need durable peace, chosen by Ukraine & in line with int' law. Frozen conflict won't work (cd simply lead to more conflict down the line). We need solid security guarantees for Ukraine.

Macron: says again that we must continue to support Ukraine long-term. (Interesting he said this twice).

Macron: we must listen to what countries around the world say abt Ukraine war. Those that don't openly condemn Russia, who say we have double standards, have important preoccupations that we haven't sufficiently taken on board. Need to listen and have a clear agenda toward them

Macron: US a close ally. Huge support to Ukraine. But will this administration remain the same (aka, who knows who will be in White House in 2024). Europe must be a capable actor, capable of defending itself ("porter le fardeau"). Not a Franco-German condominium.

Macron: EU must become resilient & strong - tech, defence, industrial policy. Build European, Buy European, Innovate European. Do more on defence at national level (capabilities). Capabilities = credibility.

Macron: doesn't mention Germany, but clearly a dig at Germany: Those countries who buy (non-EU) arms are setting themselves for (dependency) problems down the line. But we need stronger European industrial base. More strategic intimacy (more cooperation).

Macron: new frontiers important: cyber, space, Mediterranean. "Need strategic lucidity" to identify tomorrow's probs and prepare. Here Macron talks about right for EU (Europeans?) to decide laws that apply to it (not be subjected to rules of others). Constant for Macron over yrs

Lots of new START Treaty. Sorry, out of my scope of expertise so not tweeting abt it.

Macron: again talks about Ukraine's security guarantees:
🚨We must give it means to defend itself
🚨 We must give it 'credible' guarantees (shd be discussed at NATO summit) - multilateral or bilateral guarantees.
🚨We must be include Ukraine in strategic discussions.

Macron doesn't go as far as to suggest Ukraine should integrate NATO but clearly thinks NATO should discuss what security guarantees to Ukraine look like. (Note, Ukraine, not EU).

Macron: European Political Community should serve to think about 'common' 'Europe-wide' solutions (cyber, energy, etc). EPC is a 'geopolitical lab'. Hopes that tomorrow's summit will define key issues that can be addressed at continental level.

Macron: Need to think strategically abt EU enlargement. Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova's place is in EU. Negotiations can't take forever. But EU must also reform - know where it is going, what it will become. Need 'strategic clarification'. Needs to be clarified in next 2/3 yrs.

Macron: France has often been criticised of being arrogant, not paying enough attention to CEE. I (Macron) have tried to engage more. EU discussions about its future must take account of different views, aspirations. Must also take account of candidate countries views. END.