French President Emmanuel Macron. File photoBRUSSELS, Jun 23 French President Emmanuel Macron has said he is not abandoning his idea of creating a European political community with non-EU countries, including those who have received candidate status. On Thursday, the heads of state and government of the European Union at the summit in Brussels approved the granting of Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for EU membership. Many of them warned that both countries will face a long and difficult reform process to move to the next stage of integration. «It is very difficult to carry out the reforms that lead to us in the EU, the road is long. This is also why I proposed the idea of a European political community, which could be the right answer,» Macron said at a press conference in Brussels, where the EU summit is taking place. According to him, Europe needs a structure that will help develop cooperation in such areas as geopolitics, energy, infrastructure and transport with countries with which such close integration as exists within the EU is impossible. …. many may not reach the end, but we need to act much faster and stabilize the situation next to us,» Macron said. Earlier, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, supported the proposal Macron's vision of creating a European political community with countries wishing to join the EU, including Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
