On 26 September 2017, Emmanuel Macron, not yet forty, delivered an impassioned address at Paris’s emblematic Sorbonne University, aiming to breathe new life into a faltering European ideal. Within his ambitious "Initiative pour l'Europe," Macron eloquently spoke for over ninety minutes, setting forth a detailed vision for Europe's renewal. HMacron’s poise and youth cast him as Europe’s would-be saviour. The speech resonated across the continent, extensively covered by European media, offering hope that a stagnant Europe might finally have found its young champion.
His speech acknowledged the frustration driving populism, not just called for renewal. He candidly admitted Europe's challenges and outlined solutions, a rare gesture at a time when optimism about Europe's shared future still lingered. By embracing the term "sovereignty"—a concept frequently used by Eurosceptics critical of diminished national autonomy—Macron cleverly redefined it, advocating instead for a unified European sovereignty, rather than fragmented national sovereignties.
The victory of Macron over Marine Le Pen in 2017 initially appeared as a turning point in European politics, especially significant following the Brexit referendum in 2016. Brexit exposed severe criticisms of the European Union, particularly its notorious bureaucratic inefficiencies. European leaders often resorted to abstract rhetoric without concrete outcomes. Macron’s speech at the Sorbonne explicitly sought to break from this tradition, emphasizing actionable policies rather than vague ideals. But why, despite the initial enthusiasm, did Macron’s ambitious plans yield mixed results?
Ambition Meets Reality: The European Defence Fund and Beyond
One remarkable aspect of Macron’s foresight was his early recognition in 2017 that the United States was retreating from its global policing role. By 2025, this observation has proven increasingly accurate as American inwardness has become more pronounced. Macron might have seemed visionary—if his proposals had borne fruit. Central among these was his call for a unified European army to complement NATO forces.
