The President of France Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech at the Conference on the Future of Europe and the publication of its report with proposals for reforms, in Strasbourg, France, 9 May 2022. Louis Marin / Poole through REUTERS
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PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he supported a new type of “political European community” that would allow countries outside the European Union, including Ukraine and Britain, to join the “European core”. values.”
Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Macron called his re-election last month a signal that the French want more Europe.
But he made it clear that Ukraine’s desire to join the bloc will take several years, and that some hope must be given as a result in the short term.
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“Ukraine, with its struggle and courage, is already a heartfelt member of our Europe, of our family, of our union,” Macron said.
“Even if we give him candidate status tomorrow, we all know very well that the process of allowing him to join will really take several years, probably several decades.
Instead of lowering strict standards to allow countries to join more quickly, Macron suggested creating a parallel entity that could appeal to countries seeking to join the bloc or, apparently, a reference to Britain, countries that have left the union.
He said this “European political community” would be open to democratic European nations that adhere to its core values in areas such as political cooperation, security, energy cooperation, transport, infrastructure investment or human movement.
“Joining it would not necessarily predetermine future EU membership,” he said. “Nor will it be closed to those who have left it.”
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Report by Tassilo Hummel, Elizabeth Pineau; writing by John Irish Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Ingrid Melander
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