French President Emmanuel Macron said today he wants to “move faster” the enlargement of the European Union, but clarifying that the discussions between the “27” are just starting and no decision has been taken at this stage.

We are convinced that we need to move faster” on this matter, the French president told reporters after the end of the informal EU meeting in Granada. “At the moment, it is still too early, no decision has been made”he added.

The European Commission is due to present this autumn its recommendations for opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, which received candidate status in June 2022. The same status applies to five countries in the Western Balkans.

Macron said the leaders agreed that “we are facing a real transformation (…) of our geopolitical vision for our Europe”.

European Council President Charles Michel said in late August that the EU should be ready to welcome new members “by 2030”.