Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian, former French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire argued that the European Union should abandon its 27-member consensus model in favor of a smaller, more agile core group. In an interview with Euronews, Le Maire said that only by uniting the bloc's six largest economies—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands—can Europe effectively confront external threats and deliver concrete results.
Le Maire, who served as France's longest-serving economy and finance minister since World War II, stressed that the past two years have taught European leaders a single lesson: relevance and strength require unity, but not necessarily among all 27 member states. “They need to give a new impetus to the European construction by building a European [project] with six core countries,” he said.
The E6 Coalition: A Two-Speed Europe
The idea of a two-speed Europe is not new. Earlier this year, finance ministers from the same six countries launched a coalition dubbed the “E6” to push for decisive action in four strategic areas: defense, supply chains, the Savings and Investments Union, and strengthening the euro internationally. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said at the time, “We are providing the impetus, and other countries are welcome to join us.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has endorsed this concept as a way to bolster the European economy.
In May, the E6 signed a joint letter calling for an acceleration of the Capital Markets Union (CMU), aiming to break through political stagnation in Brussels. Le Maire envisions a structure where the six core countries move forward on key issues, and the remaining 21 member states can join later if they choose. “First of all, let's move on,” he said.
Resisting US Pressure
Le Maire pointed to mounting pressure from the United States, including tariffs and threats over regulatory standards, as a key reason for a more unified European front. He criticized the Trump administration's approach to European antitrust fines and digital regulations targeting American tech giants like Google and Amazon. “We can no longer accept being blackmailed,” he said. “The way President Trump and the US administration are saying, 'You should get rid of the taxation of Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft, otherwise, I will hit you with new tariffs,' is 100% unacceptable among allies.”
He argued that only by standing united can the six strongest European member states resist such threats. “If we are divided, you cannot resist that pressure. If you stand united, explaining that it will be difficult for the US to gain access to the European market if they do not respect Europe as a partner, that is the best way of getting some concrete results.”
From Talk to Action
Le Maire criticized the EU's current decision-making process, often held up by the principle of unanimity. “Involving 27 countries to form a consensus means long talks and very few decisions,” he said, adding that what is needed now is “strong decisions and fewer talks.” The E6 coalition aims to address issues ranging from the Iran conflict and support for Ukraine to chip manufacturing on European soil and nuclear energy.
The former minister's comments come at a time when the EU is seeking ways to streamline its operations and become more agile on defense and foreign policy. While the idea of a core Europe has been debated for years, Le Maire's proposal gives it renewed urgency in the face of global challenges. Whether other member states will accept a two-speed Europe remains to be seen, but for Le Maire, the path forward is clear: a smaller, more decisive union is the best way to reinforce Europe.
