French President Emmanuel Macron explained on Thursday May 19 that "
the European political community
" he had proposed in early May represented "
a complement
" and not "
an alternative
" to the EU accession process.
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Speaking at the Elysée while welcoming the President of Moldova Maia Sandu, the Head of State recalled that this new format aimed "
to create a new framework for structuring cooperation, bringing together democratic European nations that adhere to our base of values and who aspire or not to join the European Union
".
"
This community is not an alternative to the accession process but a complement which, independently of it, makes it possible to structure more strongly the political, energy and investment relationship with several countries that so wish
", he said. -he adds.
Emmanuel Macron had presented this project on May 9 before the European Parliament in Strasbourg in the midst of a debate on the launch of the process of accession of Ukraine, at war against Russia.
He explained that it would take "
decades
" for Ukraine to join the EU, and suggested that in the meantime it should be part of a "
European political community
" which could also include Britain, which has left the EU.
EU in 2020, or Moldova.
A “clear” response to Moldova
This project, which must be discussed at the European summit at the end of June, has been criticized by some leaders, such as Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, according to whom it reflected a lack of will to integrate Ukraine quickly into the EU.
In front of Maia Sandu, whom he received for the third time, Emmanuel Macron said he hoped that "
the next few weeks will allow us to provide a clear response to Moldova, which deserves it, given its geopolitical, security and humanitarian situation
" .
.
Read alsoThe war in Ukraine is driving Moldova away from Moscow and closer to Europe
"
The unacceptable aggression of Ukraine by Russia poses a threat to the stability of the whole region and in particular to Moldova
" because "
recent incidents in the Transdniestrian region show that a spread of the conflict
" can
not not be excluded
,” he added.