Macron supports the euthanasia bill and intends to bring the debate to Parliament in May.

By Elizabeth Pineau and John Irish

PARIS (Reuters) French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday for the first time that he supports new end-of-life legislation that would allow what he called "assisted dying," and wants his government to present a bill to Parliament in May.

France's neighbors -- Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands -- already have laws that allow assisted dying in some cases. However, France resisted this measure, partly under pressure from the Catholic Church.

The Claeys-Leonetti End-of-Life Act, adopted in 2016, authorizes deep sedation, but only for people whose life expectancy is threatened in the short term.

In an interview with the newspaper Libération, Macron said that he did not want to call the new legislation euthanasia or assisted suicide, but rather "help to die".

"Strictly speaking, it doesn't create a new right or freedom, but it defines a path that didn't exist until now and opens up the possibility of requesting assistance to die under certain conditions," he said.

Macron explained that these conditions would need to be met and that a medical team would have to assess them to ensure that the criteria for the decision were correct.

The project would only involve adults capable of making this decision and whose life expectancy is threatened in the medium term, such as those with end-stage cancer, he said, adding that family members could also appeal the decision.

(Reporting by John Irish)