PARIS, June 24. /TASS/. The European Political Community project does not include Russia’s participation, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday at a news conference after the EU summit in Brussels.
"In Eastern Europe, the Community will comprise Ukraine and Moldova. This is its difference from more inclusive projects, in particular the European Confederation suggested by Francois Mitterrand," said Macron, whose speech was streamed on the Twitter account of the Elysee Palace.
"This confederation was supposed to be alternative to the enlargement and implied Russia’s participation. We are not proposing it in our Community project," he added.
In the early 1990s, then French President Francois Mitterrand came up with an idea of the European Confederation, which should have been a certain alternative to the European Union.
"But the idea failed," Macron noted.
"Yesterday, the EU summit hold a lengthy debate on the European Political Community idea and came to a unanimous conclusion. We need a forum to work and to exchange views on how to move forward in all the pressing issues with those who share European values, " the French president said.
Macron pointed out that he "alongside President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel, will draft a list of topics of general interest."
"We will invite countries from Iceland to Ukraine, including the countries forming the European Economic Area, the countries that have recently exited the European Union, the countries that are willing to join it, the Eastern Balkan countries that do not yet have EU candidate status and the Eastern Partnership countries that have or do not have prospects for the membership," Macron said.