EU Must Be More Independent from the US, Says Charles Michel

Leaders from several European Union (EU) countries are supporting French President Emmanuel Macron's stance that the EU should become more independent from the United States. This was stated by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, during an appearance on the French television show La Faute a l'Europe on April 11.

“It is clear that there can be nuances and sensitive moments regarding relations with the United States in the European Council. Some European leaders might not express it exactly as Emmanuel Macron did, but I believe that some truly think the same way as Emmanuel Macron,” the newspaper quotes Michel.

Moreover, Michel noted that the EU does not “blindly follow” the US on all matters. On April 9, French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with Les Echos about the outcomes of his trip to China (April 5-7), stated that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on the US and avoid being drawn into the conflict between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan.

The French leader expressed confidence that Europe should primarily pursue its own interests, rather than adapting to agendas set elsewhere in the world. He acknowledged that Europe has become increasingly dependent on the US in recent years but asserted that the “ideological battle” for boosting the continent’s strategic autonomy in the EU has been won. In this context, the French leader also stated that Europe must strengthen this autonomy and not rely on the dollar.