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Emmanuel Macron has launched a scathing attack on Brexit as he said Europe now faces its worst crisis since the Second World War.

The French president said Britain’s departure from the EU was a symbol of the problems plaguing the bloc. He claimed “lies” and “irresponsibility” triggered the UK’s move to leave.

In a column for French newspaper Le Parisien, Mr Macron wrote: "Never, since the World War II, has Europe been as essential. Yet never has Europe been in so much danger."

He urged EU citizens on Monday to use their votes in the upcoming European Parliament elections to protect an "endangered" Europe.

The French leader campaigned as a strong supporter of the European Union.

He advised voters in the May 23-26 EU parliament elections to reject nationalist parties that "offer nothing."

"The trap is not being part of the European Union," he said in the column, which was expected to appear in Tuesday editions of newspapers in the 28 EU member countries.

Mr Macron decided to directly address the bloc's voters to an effort to use the elections to give a new boost to the EU, his office said.

He suggested Europe should be more independent from other world powers.

The French president proposed the creation of an agency that would provide every member state with experts to protect their voting process from cyberattacks and other manipulations.

He also wants to ban the financing of EU political parties by foreign powers.

To better handle the migrant crisis, Mr Macron called for stricter border controls and a common border force.

He suggested introducing common asylum rules.

Mr Macron also proposed a defence treaty to define the bloc's fundamental obligations in association with NATO, including increasing defence spending.

He stressed that Britain should be associated to decisions in this field -even after Brexit.

In the economic field, Mr Macron suggested applying penalties or banning from Europe any companies that compromise key EU interests and values, such as environmental standards, data protection and payment of taxes.

He said the bloc should give priority to European companies in strategic industries and public contracts as American and Chinese competitors do.

Mr Macron said he wants Europe to take the lead of the fight against climate change by setting a target of zero emissions of carbon dioxide by 2050 and halving the use of pesticides by 2025.

"This is the choice I propose: to chart together the road to European renewal", Mr Macron concluded.