"We live together on one continent. Russia threatens our security today too. Russia attacked Ukraine and could be here tomorrow and the day after tomorrow," said Macron, in a speech to an audience of young people, in the German city of Dresden.
The official defended a "new concept of common security", a basis on which necessary capabilities, means and projects will be decided. "The technological projects that we must develop as Europeans," he said.
On a commercial level, Europe must also "get out of its naivety" and "protect itself better", building "a European preference", argued Macron, who argued about the need to double the community budget.
"Europe is the last place where we are open to the rest of the world without European preference and without rules", lamented the French head of state, in a country averse to protectionist rules.
"The European budget must be doubled, either through investment strategies or through joint debt. We need to double the investment in Europe", he argued, calling for the creation of a common capital market to attract more private financing.
On the far right, the French leader called it an "evil wind" that is "blowing across Europe" and urged citizens to defend democracy with less than two weeks to go before the European elections.
"Let's look around us at the fascination with authoritarian regimes, let's look around us at the illiberal moment we are living in", warned Macron, adding: "the extreme right, this evil wind, is blowing in Europe, it is a reality, so let's wake up."
He also called for "building a new growth paradigm for future generations", a model "that fully embraces sound investment in the climate and the decarbonization of European economies."
Before speaking before thousands of young people, next to the Frauenkirche, a building destroyed in February 1945 by American-British bombings and which was rebuilt after German reunification in 1990, the French President had lunch with young Franco-Germans in the gardens of Moritzburg Castle , near the capital of Saxony.
This is the first visit by a French head of state to East Germany since François Mitterrand in 1989.
The city of Dresden is emblematic of the economic renaissance of this part of the former East Germany, now known by the flattering name of "Silicon Saxony".
On Tuesday, Macron is expected to receive the Westphalia International Peace Prize in Münster (west) for his "European commitment", before meeting Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Meseberg, near Berlin, for a Council of Ministers Franco-German.
The two politicians will try, once again, to overcome their differences over support for Ukraine and the future of Europe and strengthen the Franco-German partnership, which continues to be the driving force of the European Union.
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