Ukraine, United Kingdom… Macron launches the idea of ​​a “European political community” complementary to the Union

In a speech delivered on the occasion of the closing of the Convention on the future of Europe in the European Parliament, the French president, who had just been inaugurated for a second five-year term, spoke out for a Union more ” independent”, particularly in terms of energy, and more “efficient” in its operation.

In this regard, he said he was in favor of moving by qualified majority for matters relating to finance and foreign policy.

He also pleaded in favor of a “revision of the treaties” of the EU via the convening of a dedicated convention. “It’s a proposal from the European Parliament and I approve of it,” he said, suggesting that the Twenty-Seven discuss it at their June summit.

This idea, however, was rejected by 13 of the 27 EU countries in a joint message posted on Twitter. “We are not in favor of reckless and premature attempts to launch” such a procedure, can we read in this text signed in particular by Sweden, Poland, Romania and Finland.

As the EU accession process is long and complex, Emmanuel Macron put on the table the idea of ​​a “European political community” which would allow “democratic European nations adhering to our core values ​​to find a new space cooperation in matters of politics, security, energy, transport, investment, infrastructure or the movement of people.

“Joining it would not necessarily prejudge future membership of the European Union. Nor would it be closed to those who have left the latter,” he added, referring in particular to the United Kingdom, which left the Union following a referendum.

The proposal could be made to Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, he said during a press conference with the German chancellor in Berlin, where he arrived in the early evening for a meeting and a working dinner.

Ukraine “heart member” of the Union

“It’s a very interesting proposal”, reacted Olaf Scholz, adding however that this entity should not concern countries already engaged in a process of joining the Union such as the western balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro).

While France is presiding over the European Council until June 30, Emmanuel Macron reiterated in Strasbourg as in Berlin the support of the Twenty-Seven for Ukraine in the face of the invasion of Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin affirms that his army defends “the fatherland”.

“Ukraine, through its fight and its courage, is already a core member of our Europe, of our family, of our Union,” the French president told the European Parliament.

“If we granted him candidate status tomorrow, we all know perfectly well that the process allowing them to join would take (…) probably several decades”, he explained to support his idea of ​​”political community”. .

Organized on the occasion of Europe Day, the ceremony at the Parliament of Strasbourg took on a particular color in these days of commemoration of the 1945 victory against Nazi Germany, which gave rise to a large military parade this Monday morning in Red Square in Moscow, where Vladimir Putin spoke.

“We have given two very different faces to May 9,” said Emmanuel Macron during a press conference alongside Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

“On the one hand there was a desire to demonstrate force, intimidation and a resolutely warlike discourse, and there was here in a broad, civic way, the association of citizens, national and European parliamentarians for a project and thinking about our future,” he continued.

“The European project was born of the war, it must not be forgotten, and of our desire not to repeat it”, he also underlined.