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Amajor global transformation – the ecological transition – is revolutionising the way we produce, redistribute and behave. Today, Europe is in a period of ‘in between’, but our choice is simple: do we want to continue producing as we have in the past, and defend a competitiveness against powers that are making this choice, or have already done so; or do we wish to push forward and become leaders of a new production model? A model that will not only be a model for the economy, but also a model for society and civilization, enabling a fresh perspective on inequalities and externalities of a society whose main victims of imbalances are the weakest and most vulnerable.I have made my choice: I deeply believe that Europe must be a pioneer of an effective and equitable ecological transition. For this to happen, we need to transform our transport, our housing, our industries. For this to happen, we need to invest and provide powerful incentives for this transformation. It is first necessary to establish a fair carbon price, one that is high enough to ensure this transition. Here too, there will be a fight. Here too, there will be lobbies, resistance saying that it is a good idea but only a few euros gained. In the coming years, if we do not have a significant carbon price per tonne to develop very different directions for our economies, then later it will all be pointless.Studies have shown that anything below €25 to €30 per tonne is not effective. It is towards this goal that we should work, and starting today, we must get organised to do so – this is crucial. A significant floor price, a genuine single price, a genuine transition to trigger this transformation of our economies; supporting sectors in need, supporting regions that INITIATIVE FOR EUROPEEMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT, THE FRENCH REPUBLICwill be victims of these changes with contracts designed to best address the needs on the ground –that will help to promote regions where outdated production models are the most prevalent, so that they can benefit from the creation of new jobs.This transition also means having a European energy market that really works, therefore finally wanting and fostering interconnections. For a long time, we slowed their progress, here too because it was not necessarily one of our core corporate interests. We need, with Spain, with Portugal, with all our neighbours, to develop these interconnections. Why? Because in certain seasons, when renewable energy is produced in large quantities, we must ensure that all of Europe benefits. At other times, when nuclear energy is indispensable, low-carbon –no-carbon – and low-cost, we must also pool the benefits. We will have a European energy market that functions more efficiently if at last we swiftly develop these interconnections.If this strategy is to be successful, we must also ensure that our manufacturers that are most exposed to globalisation are on an equal footing with competing companies and industries from other regions in the world that do not have the same environmental requirements. That is why we should have a European border carbon tax – it is crucial.The floor price, interconnections, the regional transition contract and border carbon tax are the four pillars of this ambition for energy in Europe. All of this cannot be done in a day. I am aware of the resistance of some, but if we refuse to talk about it or move in this direction, I know one thing – it will never be done. Yet we can give ourselves a firm goal. In five years, in 10 years, we can build transitions to 030 THE G20 MEMBER COUNTRIES