The French Foreign Ministry said that the initiative of President Emmanuel Macron to create a “political European community” is not an alternative to membership in the European Union.
“We welcome Ukraine’s application for EU membership. It is currently being considered by the European Commission and will be discussed at the level of heads of state and government in the European Council in June next year,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
They reiterated the words of Macron on May 9 and the French Minister for European Affairs that “Ukraine is part of the European family.”
“The project of the European political community, formulated by the President of the Republic, is not an alternative to membership, nor an alternative to the process. On the contrary, it aims to strengthen relations with all neighboring European countries. is a candidate to strengthen our support in all areas in order to join them”, said the French Foreign Ministry, answering the question whether Paris is worried that talks about 15-20 years for Ukraine’s possible EU membership may send the wrong signal to Kyiv.
On May 9, French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine’s accession to the EU could take decades. The French leader also recommended forming a new type of “political European community” that would allow non-EU countries to join “core European values”.
On May 23, French Minister for European Affairs Clement Bonn pointed out that Ukraine’s accession to the EU is possible not earlier than in 15-20 years.
