GETTY Melenchon wants the EU flag to be removed from French parliament

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French eurosceptics say the EU flag should be removed immediately - a major snub to Brussels golden boy Emmanuel Macron. The left-wing France Unbowed party has demanded that the flag is taken down and replaced with a United Nations flag. The party’s leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said the EU’s flag “does not create consensus”.

EU Summit 2017: Best pictures Fri, June 23, 2017 European heads of states and governments gather for a two-days European Council meeting which will mainly 'focus on the ongoing efforts to strengthen the European Union and protect its citizens through the work on counterterrorism, security and defence, external borders, illegal migration and economic development' Play slideshow EPA 1 of 37 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) give a press conference at the end of the second day of the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, 23 June 2017

The leader of the far-right Front National Marine Le Pen has agreed with the proposal to take down the EU flag. During the presidential election campaign, she refused to take part in a television interview if the EU flag was not removed. The vice-president of the Front National, Louis Aliot, said: “We are in the French National Assembly. By rights, there should only be the French flag.”

However, the pro EU French president said he would ignore complaints and instead sign an agreement that would officially recognise the union’s flag at an EU summit. This would prevent it from being removed from any public building. This comes as Mr Macron has challenged EU leader including Angela Merkel to reform the bloc within a year.

GETTY Marine Le Pen refused to give a TV debate if the EU flag was visible

He said: “I think we need to start the debate, we have a year to clarify and draw up a common roadmap.” Last month, the 39-year-old French president set out an ambitious vision for Europe, calling for deeper cooperation on defence and immigration, and for a common euro zone budget.