French President Emmanuel Macron called on Monday in Strasbourg for the creation of a “ european political community to welcome Ukraine in particular, during the EU accession procedure which will take years, even ” decades “.
In his speech on the occasion of Europe Day, Emmanuel Macron stressed that Ukraine, invaded by Russia, was already ” heart member of our union as Moscow staged a military commemoration with great fanfare of the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.
But the process of joining the EU, to which Kyiv aspires, “ would take several years, indeed several decades “, underlined the French president, who proposed, in parallel, the creation of a” new European organization “.
“ This new European organization would allow the democratic European nations adhering to our base of values, to find a new space for political cooperation, security, cooperation “Explained Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the closing of the Conference on the future of Europe.
The European Commission intends to give its opinion in June on Ukraine obtaining EU candidate status, which would pave the way for a long process of negotiations which will have to be approved by all of the 27, announced Monday Ursula von der Leyen.
Treaty revisions
The president of the European executive has also spoken out in favor of a modification of the EU treaties “ if necessary and the abandonment of the unanimous vote of the 27 member countries in key areas, in a speech. ” I’ve always argued that unanimity voting in some key areas just doesn’t make sense anymore “, she said.
In his first speech on Europe since his re-election, Emmanuel Macron also said to himself ” favorable ” to one “ revision of the treaties of the European Union, as proposed by the European Parliament, to gain institutional efficiency in times of peace and in times of crisis.
Thirteen of the 27 EU countries said on Monday they were opposed to the launch of a procedure to change the treaties. Emmanuel Macron recognized ” differences between the Member States on the subject and wishes to raise this issue with the leaders of the 27 at a summit in June.
(With AFP)