Former French Economy Minister proposes federation of six EU countries

Former French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has proposed forming a federation of six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland. The federation would have a single capital. Le Maire does not advocate erasing borders or creating a single state. Instead, he wants the six largest EU economies to form a closer union with common rules in key areas—economy, technology, security—and their own capital, while remaining EU members and acting almost as one entity.