Macron proposes "Europe of defense" to overcome security challenges

Presenting his vision for Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday pleaded for the creation of a common European defense budget and intervention force in a context "of international terrorism."

"The Europe we know is too weak, too slow, too inefficient, but Europe alone can give us a capacity to act in the world in the face of the great contemporary challenges," Macron said.

In order to face "progressive disengagement of the United States and a lasting terrorism," the French president proposed "common intervention vote, a common defense budget and a common doctrine to act" from next decade.

"In defense matters, our objective must be Europe's autonomous capacity to act as a complement to NATO," he added.

In his speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Macron also called on his European partners to set up an intelligence academy "to strengthen the ties between our countries through training and exchange" and a "European prosecutor's office against organized crime and terrorism."

"Faced with the international terrorism, the security of Europe must be our shield," he stressed.

Since his election on May 7, the 39-year-old head of state wants further cooperation in the single-currency bloc and to reform Europe to make it the one that "protects."