Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

German Finance Minister slams Macron's autonomous EU idea as 'naïve'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Apr 2023 11:46
3 Min Read

The Minister says the EU and the US should be trading partners because they share common values.

  • x
  • Macron's idea for an autonomous EU is 'naive': German Finance Minister
    French President Emmanuel Macron gives a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, February 25, 2022 (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron's call for an autonomous EU is "naive", said German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Friday.

“The idea of strategic autonomy of the European Union, I fear it’s naive,” Lindner said in response to a question while at Princeton University to deliver a speech. “Security on European soil without the strategic nuclear potential of the United States at least is unthinkable.” 

The German Minister said the United States and Europe should be trading partners just as they are partners in values, touching upon ongoing talks between the bloc and the White House over the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a US program that if executed in its current form would cause significant damage to Europe's economy and investing environment.

Lindner's remarks came after Macron made bold and surprising remarks earlier this week after his return from a three-day visit from China with regards to the EU's relationship with the US, Europe's policy on China, and its take on the Taiwan issue.

Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to develop more strategic autonomy as a way to avoid the risk of turning EU countries into “vassals” in the event of a global crisis such as a US-China confrontation.  

Related News

Diplomatic efforts to solve Ukraine conflict are 'exhausted' says Merz

1,200 soldiers from 4 NATO states train river crossing in Germany

“Strategic autonomy must be the battle of Europe,” the French President told the business daily Les Echos during last week’s visit to China. “We don’t want to depend on others for critical topics,” Macron said in the interview, published on Sunday, citing issues such as energy, defense, social media, and artificial intelligence. Similar comments were published by Politico. 

In an interview published on Sunday, April 9, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Europe must not be a "follower" of either the US or China on Taiwan, warning that the EU risks becoming entangled in "crises that aren't ours."

"The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction," he told media including French business daily Les Echos and Politico.

“Strategic autonomy must be the battle of Europe,” he added, stressing that the bloc doesn't, "want to depend on others for critical topics.”

"We must be clear where our views overlap with the US, but whether it's about Ukraine, relations with China, or sanctions, we have a European strategy," he emphasized, stressing that Europe "should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours."

Last Wednesday, the French leader reaffirmed his previous statements regarding relations with Washington saying that "Being an ally does not mean being a vassal... doesn't mean that we don't have the right to think for ourselves." 

  • Germany
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • China
  • Christian Lindner

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS