French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that cooperation in the European Union’s defense industry needed to be enhanced, including by the introduction of measures to favor EU companies on strategic issues.

“We need to…have a stronger industrial and technological base for European defense one that is much stronger and much more ambitious. And I will be intractable on this subject,” Macron told a defense industry event in Paris.

In his speech, Macron stressed the changed geopolitical situation caused by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, reiterating his call for boosting Europe’s autonomy when it comes to its defense capacities, Reuters reported.

“The time has come to put in place…a European preference, to build, when necessary and possible, rational mechanisms for the acquisition of common capabilities”, Macron said.

Public tender rules among EU states for defense industry contracts should also be simplified to allow more transnational cooperation.