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Macron " Europe has lost it's way". /Tax and spending cuts/Reduce Parliament

(47 Posts)
POGS Tue 04-Jul-17 17:00:22

I was sceptical about Macron I admit but his 'Versailles Speech' yesterday has actually made me think again .

During his so called 'State of the Nation' Speech at Versailles Macron said:-
Quotes.

" The building of Europe has been weakened by the spread of bureaucracy and by the growing scepticism that comes from that.

"The last 10 years have been cruel for Europe"

"We have managed crises but we have lost our way."

“I believe firmly in Europe. But I don’t find the scepticism unjustified.”

"Britain's vote last year to leave the European Union was a "symptom" of a "failure... that we must have the courage to face head-on"

"tyranny of agendas and timelines and technical twists and turns" should be overturned."

“The building of Europe has been weakened by the spread of bureaucracy and by the growing scepticism that comes from that.”

Apart from wanting to reform the EU He also wants to cut the size of the French National Parliament by a third, and put the issue to a referendum if lawmakers did not go along with the plan.

Reform Labour Laws (controversial)

New Anti-Terror Laws.

Tax and Spending cuts. etc. etc.

He is not wasting time is he. Can ' Jupiter ' get what he wants? I think he just might.

Mamie Tue 04-Jul-17 17:45:51

I am cautiously optimistic POGS. ?
I think that most people recognise that the bureaucracy around small and medium-sized businesses needs reform, but it will be a struggle.
I think he has done well so far. On verra (we shall see) as the neighbours say. ?

MaizieD Tue 04-Jul-17 17:51:38

Tax and Spending cuts. etc. etc.

Oh dear.

It's tax and spending cuts that contributed hugely to the Brexit vote. If he sticks to discredited neo-liberal monetary policy he might find himself in trouble in a few years.

petra Tue 04-Jul-17 18:02:15

I think Macron will turn out to be all smoke and mirrors.
I see that the left wing Italian MEP is less than impressed with Macrons views of a united eu.
On 27June 150 migrants crossed from Italy into France. The were swiftly marched back again. So much for solidarity.

Cindersdad Tue 04-Jul-17 18:28:33

Macron makes some very valid points and good luck to him in his attempts to reform the EU as a member. It stengthens my view that the UK is better inside helping him where our interests coincide.

TerriBull Tue 04-Jul-17 18:37:44

I'm glad Macron has the honesty to articulate what so many of us feel, even pro EU, Bob Geldof gave a speech somewhere or other to say that it's a scelrotic organsation that needs reforming. Macron is of course going to have an uphill struggle dealing with the unions and the ongoing terrorist threat so reforming the EU may not be top of his agenda.

There doesn't seem to be any consensus in the Euro zone of how to deal with major issues such as the migrant crisis, Italy and Greece are left to flounder around with the tidal wave that are crossing the Mediterranean with little help from the rest of Europe. Meanwhile, Hungary Poland and other Easten Bloc countries staunchly refuse to accept any refugees not even 20,000, these are large countries with relatively small populations, well compared to ours at any rate. Their raison d'etre, not wanting their culture diluted. This is of course contrary to the ethos of the EU.

Luckygirl Tue 04-Jul-17 18:42:12

I think he is entirely correct when it comes to the EU. It has lost its way.

petra Tue 04-Jul-17 18:50:10

Junker and the Maltese priminister attended the parliament to review maltas 6 month presidency and debate the migrant crisis ( what crisis ). 30 MEPs attended,
The reason why: they are getting ready for their 7 week holiday.

Ana Tue 04-Jul-17 18:55:46

Although they'd all signed in to get their daily allowance, I heard!

whitewave Tue 04-Jul-17 19:06:26

Sounds like the uK House of Lords

petra Tue 04-Jul-17 19:21:37

Ana I would expect nothing less grin

Mamie Tue 04-Jul-17 19:24:36

Looking at the speech, I think "Europe has lost its way" is very far from the sense of what he actually said. He is noting the impact of the crises of the last years, but absolutely reaffirming his faith in the EU.
"La décennie qui vient de s’achever a été pour l’Europe une décennie cruelle. Nous avons géré des crises mais nous avons perdu le cap. Face à cet échec, qu’il faut avoir le courage de regarder en face et dont le "Brexit" n’est qu’un symptôme, certains voudraient nous faire croire qu’il n’y a d’autre choix que l’abandon de l’euro, de l’Union, le retour des frontières et la résurrection du passé, d’ailleurs idéalisé, de la souveraineté. Je tiens que cette option serait tragique et pour la France et pour l’Europe. Il revient aujourd’hui à une génération nouvelle de dirigeants de reprendre l’idée européenne à son origine, qui est politique dans son essence : une association volontaire, réaliste et ambitieuse d’Etats décidés à faire prévaloir des politiques utiles en matière de circulation des personnes et des biens – et notamment de la jeunesse, en matière de sécurité, en matière monétaire et fiscale mais aussi culturelle et politique."

Welshwife Tue 04-Jul-17 19:25:38

In fact the MEPs were in France attending the funeral of Simone Veil the first EU President - not just going on holiday!

Mamie Tue 04-Jul-17 19:30:40

Google translation here...
The decade that has just ended has been a cruel decade for Europe. We have managed crises but we have lost course. Faced with this failure, which one must have the courage to face and of which "Brexit" is only a symptom, some would have us believe that there is no choice but to abandon the euro, the Union, the return of borders and the resurrection of the otherwise idealized past of sovereignty. I would hold this option to be tragic for France and for Europe. It is now up to a new generation of leaders to take up the European idea at its origin, which is political in its essence: a voluntary, realistic and ambitious association of states determined to make use of useful policies on the circulation of security, monetary and fiscal matters, but also cultural and political. "

whitewave Tue 04-Jul-17 19:33:59

Macron is a strong European - I think we are all aware of that fact.

However the DM will always attempt a spin.

Jalima1108 Tue 04-Jul-17 19:34:30

Where was he 13 months ago?

Mamie Tue 04-Jul-17 19:38:48

Pretty much just getting his En Marche movement together Jalima. It is an extraordinary achievement to become President, with a huge majority for his new party in the legislative assembly in that time.

Jalima1108 Tue 04-Jul-17 19:39:19

Yes, I know - I meant where was he when we needed him!

Mamie Tue 04-Jul-17 19:40:32

Ah I see, sorry!

POGS Tue 04-Jul-17 20:05:11

Whitewave 19.33

What the hell has the Daily Mail got to with it.

Obsession?

whitewave Tue 04-Jul-17 20:07:54

Have you not seen the DM headline about Macron?

Jalima1108 Tue 04-Jul-17 20:14:42

I can't find it, just looked online.

Although I see that Katie Hopkins has said something I agree with shock
(nothing to do with Macron or the EU btw).

whitewave Tue 04-Jul-17 20:17:28

Oh I saw it today, when browsing god knows what!! It may have been Mail online as its different. I'll have a look.

whitewave Tue 04-Jul-17 20:19:19

Yes look at Mail online it's there

Jalima1108 Tue 04-Jul-17 20:20:00

I am looking online