Macron stresses 'European sovereignty' during Netherlands visit

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French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech in a theater in The Hague, Netherlands, April 11, 2023. /CFP

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of "European sovereignty" on Tuesday during a state visit to the Netherlands.

Delivering a speech at the Amare Theater in The Hague, Macron said the concept might have once sounded like just a "French idea," or even "wishful thinking," but pointed to the danger of a Europe that is too dependent on other world powers and unable to decide for itself.

"Identity and sovereignty are intertwined," he said. "If you accept to lose your sovereignty, if you accept to depend on other powers, you put yourself in a situation not to decide for yourself, and not to be in charge of precisely continuing preserving and developing your own identity."

"We must be able to choose our partners and shape our own destiny rather than being, I would say, a mere witness of the dramatic evolution of this world," he said.

Macron added that the pandemic and military conflicts were wake-up calls as Europe discovered how dependent it was on other nations.

The French president started his two-day state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday at the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander.

His visit will "reaffirm the excellent ties between the two countries," the Dutch Royalty said in a press release.

The two countries are "working together towards European strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy, which will enhance the European Union's security and make it less dependent," the release said.

(With input from Xinhua)