France and the question of possible EU enlargement in the context of flexible integration

Based on modern Russian and French historiography, the article draws a parallel between F. Mitterand's idea of creating a European confederation that would allow the countries of Eastern Europe that had just left the socialist camp to become part of a free Europe, but without granting them full membership, and E. Macron's project to create a European political community, which in the near future could become an alternative to EU membership for countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and, possibly, Turkey. F. Mitterrand was unable to realize the idea of a European confederation, the subsequent presidents of France came out in support of the full inclusion of the countries of Eastern Europe in the EU, which happened in 2004-2007. Today, within the framework of the EU, there is a flexible integration mechanism that allows taking into account the difference in the economic and political development of European countries. The French version of flexible integration in the form of concentric circles may be optimal for the current situation in Europe today. It allows you to connect all countries claiming EU membership to European projects without granting them full membership.