"I don't want a selfish and divided Europe": says the French President, Emmanuel Macron, in an interview reported by the AFP agency in which he stresses that "France is alongside Italy". "We will not overcome this crisis - says Macron - without strong European solidarity, in terms of health and finance". "Are the EU and the euro zone reduced to a monetary institution and a set of rules that allow each state to act on its own? Or do we act together to finance our expenses, our needs in this vital crisis? ".
At the European Council last Thursday, Macron continues, "ten eurozone countries, representing 60% of its GDP, explicitly supported" the idea of "Coronabond", of "a common debt capacity, whatever its name, or an increase in the EU budget to allow real support to the countries most affected by this crisis. " "Some countries, including Germany - Macron continued in the interview with three Italian newspapers - have expressed their reticence. We have decided to continue this fundamental debate, at the highest political level, in the coming weeks. We cannot abandon this battle. I prefer a Europe that accepts differences and debates rather than a facade that leads to immobility. If Europe can die, it is in not acting. Like Giuseppe Conte, I don't want a Europe of the least common denominator. it is historical: France will fight for a Europe of solidarity, sovereignty and future ".
As for the health crisis and the reaction model of Italy and France to the epidemic, Macron recalls that in France "we have taken the strongest measures as soon as possible; we have adopted, in the face of a similar number of cases, the measures of social restrictions a few days before our European partners I do not give it any credit - he adds - because science has illuminated us and Italy has preceded us in this crisis that we have been able to draw lessons for ourselves.
We learned from the painful experiences of your country and from the courageous decisions made by your government: many European countries considered these restrictions excessive, today they all implement them because they are indispensable in our war against the virus ".
