PARIS, Dec 9 (AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Thursday (Dec 9) France would work towards a strong and "sovereign" European Union when it takes over the bloc's rotating presidency that coincides with France's presidential election.

Macron, a centrist who portrays himself as a champion of democracy against populism, may aim to use the six-month EU mandate to fill the gap in European leadership left by the departure of German chancellor Angela Merkel, analysts say.

But the president, who was elected in 2017 demanding reform in both France and Europe, will also face a battle to be re-elected in April although he remains the clear favourite for now.

France's aim is "to move towards a Europe that is powerful in the world, fully sovereign, free in its choices and in charge of its own destiny", Macron said at a rare sit-down meeting with media in Paris that lasted more than three hours.

"Faced with all these crises that are hitting Europe, many people would like to rely only on the nation state. These nations are our strength, our pride, but European unity is their indispensable complement," he said. "We must act like Europeans, we must think like Europeans."

He called for new mechanisms to protect the EU's borders, with thousands of migrants gathering on the border between Belarus and Poland in recent months.

Europe "needs to ensure the protection of its borders", he told the news conference, adding that France would push for reform of the Schengen area of passport-free travel between 26 countries in Europe.

"Schengen is an area that has become fragmented," Macron said. "Because of the terrorist threat, because of migration tensions and because of the health panic. Does it have to be this way? I don't think so."