The French Foreign Ministry has clarified that President Emmanuel Macron's initiative to create a European political community is not a substitute for EU membership.
This is stated in the statement of the representative of the French Foreign Ministry, published on the agency's website, writes «European Truth».
«We welcome Ukraine's application for membership in EU. It is now 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. As the president and the minister's representative for Europe said on May 9, Ukraine is part of the European family», the report says.
The representative of the Foreign Ministry noted that the project of the European political community formulated by President Macron is not an alternative to membership, not an alternative to the membership process.
«On the contrary, he seeks to speed up relations with all neighboring European countries, and with those who are candidates, to increase our support in all areas with a view to their accession&# 187;, — said the representative of the French Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that France's statements regarding Ukraine's membership in the EU will not affect the European integration movement of Kyiv.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine expects get the status of a candidate for EU membership this year and enlist the support of France on the path to joining the European Union.
Prior to this, French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune said that the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union could take 15 or 20 years.