French President Emmanuel Macron at The Elysee Palace in Paris on June 21, 2017 | Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images

 On the sideline of the summit, he told reporters that France could be a driving force to help the EU change the world for the better.

While countries are challenged by extremism, inequality, dictatorship, and climate change, the EU must win the war for democracy and freedom to ensure social equality and protect the planet. He said France could be a locomotive in the cause after fulfilling its national reform plan.