French Minister of Economy Bruno Lemerre said on Monday that Donald Trump's tug of war on European defense was an "additional motivation" for a joint European Union (EU) military, stressing that Europe must assert its "sovereignty".
"When we read this tweet, it is an additional motivation for the establishment of this European army proposed by Emmanuel Macaron," he told France Radio International.
However, the minister added that the question today is "not what we are answering to Trump, but what we Europeans have and will be able to do."
The US president said on his arrival Friday evening to mark the centenary of the end of World War I, the statements of French President Emmanuel Macaron, who supports the establishment of a European army "very humiliating."
McCron said Europe should "protect itself against China, Russia and even the United States."
However, the French presidency confirmed that the European military in question was not in any way targeting the United States, speaking of "ambiguity" in translating its statements. "We have to share better the burden within NATO," Macron said in an interview with Terrap.
Bruno Lemerre said the EU should be able to "defend itself," especially in the face of the "fundamental threat" posed today by terrorism.
The French minister stressed that "Europe must assert its sovereignty today and must defend its economic interests, and it must confirm its vision of fair and effective taxes."
"When I see a resistance to charging giant digital companies by the US administration, which is now opposed to this measure, this is another reason to impose these taxes."
The European Commission, backed by France, has been working for months to quickly enforce the digit numbers of giant European companies. However, the project has difficulties in its implementation because of the opposition of some countries such as Ireland, as well as Germany's reluctance.
