Eduard Kukan, a Member of the European Parliament and in charge of its relations with Serbia, said today the French President’s statement that it was not a good time for the European Union’s enlargement was only one of the suggestions in talks about the bloc's future.

Kukan told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti President Emmanuel Macron’s opinion that there should not be any European Union enlargement until the block reformed itself was not shared by everyone within the Union. “It’s one of his ideas which I profoundly disagree with, and I’m not the only one who is against some of Macron’s stands,” Kukan told the daily in an interview. “But,” he added, “one should not underestimate what Macron is saying since France is a big country. Still, though strong, it’s just one of the voices.” Kukan said that France, Germany and Netherlands have always been strict regarding the EU enlargement. Commenting on the announced EU internal reforms by 2025, the date also tentatively set for a possible enlargement, Kukan said the first thing that had to be decided upon was in which direction the Union wanted to go. “Only then would we be able to say if the 2025 deadline could be met,” he said. Earlier, French envoy to Belgrade said Macron's statement on enlargement was misinterpreted.