{"id":27059,"date":"2021-12-10T15:45:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T14:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=27059"},"modified":"2021-12-10T15:48:46","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T14:48:46","slug":"macron-european-union-is-responsible-for-western-balkans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/macron-european-union-is-responsible-for-western-balkans\/","title":{"rendered":"Macron: European Union is responsible for the Western Balkans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u2013 a term that coincides with the country\u2019s presidential elections.<\/p>\n

By presenting France\u2019s priorities during this mandate, Macron gave a few remarks on his rapport with the Western Balkans and their European perspective.<\/p>\n

Macron insisted on Europe\u2019s \u2018special responsibility towards the 6 Western Balkan nations. He asked that the integration perspective of these countries be clarified \u2013 Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat 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 \u201cfavor 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,\u201d said Macron.<\/p>\n

The French President also announced that come June, they will be organizing a conference dedicated specifically to this region.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 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\u2019s neighborhood because it is in the heart of Europe. All it takes is to take a look at the map and our history,\u201d \u2013 said Macron.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t be built for the next 50 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d \u2013 said Macron.<\/p>\n

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE<\/strong><\/p>\n