French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to work in the direction of making Europe stronger. On January 1, 2022 Parsi will hold the EU presidency for the next 6 months – a term that coincides with the country’s presidential elections.
By presenting France’s priorities during this mandate, Macron gave a few remarks on his rapport with the Western Balkans and their European perspective.
Macron insisted on Europe’s ‘special responsibility towards the 6 Western Balkan nations. He asked that the integration perspective of these countries be clarified – Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
“That region is going through new tensions today. History is coming back. Sometimes tragedy is coming back. Today we have a special responsibility towards the Western Balkans. The EU should pursue a policy of re-engagement, but also investment in order to “favor the economic integration of the region; develop human exchange, raise the issue of minorities present in the region, but also fight against influence and manipulation who want to destabilize Europe through the Balkans,” said Macron.
The French President also announced that come June, they will be organizing a conference dedicated specifically to this region.
“Our closest neighbors are the Western Balkans. In June, we will be organizing a conference for the Western Balkans because the Western Balkans is more than Europe’s neighborhood because it is in the heart of Europe. All it takes is to take a look at the map and our history,” – said Macron.
In addition, he said that the political and economic engagement of the Western Balkans is the true agenda for European Sovereignty, adding that if the region is left to the current situation, a peaceful Europe can’t be built for the next 50 years.
“We need to clarify the European perspective. We need to reinvest in the region, on its unity, by having an actually common ambition for the upcoming decades,” – said Macron.
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