This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The French leader took part in a news conference as France prepares to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU. The 43-year-old stressed his priority would be to reinforce sovereignty and highlight the importance of stopping illegal migration.
He said that if you have to sum up in one sentence the objective of the presidency. I would say that we need to move from a Europe of cooperation within our borders to a Europe that is powerful in the world, fully sovereign, free of his choices and master of his destiny. Mr Macron said that to prevent the right of asylum invented on the European continent and which is our honour from being misguided, we need to find a Europe that knows how to protect its borders. His message came as Eastern Europe is raped by a migrant crisis on the Belarus border. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is accused of orchestrating the movement of Middle Eastern refugees into the country and then allowing them to illegally cross into EU states Poland and Lithuania.
From January 1st, Paris will take over the EU presidency and Mr Macron has proposed a task force to assist with issues at EU borders. He has also called for a reform of the 26 nation Schengen zone, which allows the freedom of movement of people. Mr Macron said that when a member state has to face a crisis that requires stronger control at the external borders of our Union, as we have experienced once again recently, it must be able to count on the support of Frontex. The solidarity reinforcement of the member states in police, gendarmes and material is also an issue. READ MORE: EU LIVE: Fishing row explodes as French demand MORE licences increases.
Mr Macron wants the EU to hold regular political meetings on migration, much like officials already do on finance. He has a tough stance on borders just four months before he is going to fight for re-election. Right wing opponents have been critical of Mr Macron's soft stance on the issue during his first term in office. As the EU warned not to anger the Royal Family LIVE: Meghan's British ex-pal lets rip at Sussexes LIVE UK winter forecast: Bone-chilling Arctic air to spark freezing weather FORECAST During the conference at the Elys e Palace in Paris, Mr Macron refused to say whether he will stand again in April for his La R publique En Marche party. He said that he will exercise his mandate until the last quarter of the year because of the mandate given to me by the French. Our challenges, whether they are health, whether they are migratory, whether they are energy, involve choices.