Macron Says EU Must Work on New Security Pact to Put to Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the European Parliament at the start of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, January 19, 2022. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the European Parliament at the start of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, January 19, 2022. (Reuters)
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Macron Says EU Must Work on New Security Pact to Put to Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the European Parliament at the start of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, January 19, 2022. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the European Parliament at the start of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, January 19, 2022. (Reuters)

European Union countries must work together on a new stability and security deal that they could then discuss with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron told the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Referring to "destabilization efforts" in the continent, Macron, speaking as France starts its presidency of the EU, said Europe wants to find a political response to the conflict in Ukraine.

"The security of our continent is indivisible", Macron said referring to Russia, adding that Europe must define its own security standards.

He added that Europe must "bring ourselves to a position to make sure they can be respected," without elaborating.

Earlier US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Kyiv for talks, warned that Russia could launch a new attack at "very short notice".

Separately, Macron said the EU must review its relationships with the Western Balkans and offer them "sincere" prospects of joining the bloc.

The EU must also propose a new alliance to African countries, he said, adding that EU and African countries would discuss it at a summit in February.



Two Dead, Four Missing in Spanish Mine Accident

A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
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Two Dead, Four Missing in Spanish Mine Accident

A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)
A miner looks on as trucks wait to load soil at a gold quarry in Paso Yobai, Guaira Department, Paraguay, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Daniel DUARTE / AFP)

At least two miners died on Monday and four were missing in an accident in a mine in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, the regional emergency service said.
The emergency service said another three people had been injured due to a machine malfunction inside the mine in Degana at 9:32 a.m. (0732 GMT) local time. Three helicopters and two ambulances have been sent to the scene.
El Mundo newspaper said earlier there had been an explosion in the mine and that several people were trapped.