Minister Joksimović with the French officials

France really appreciates the role of Serbia in the region as well as a country negotiating with the EU, and as its bilateral partner, the minister for European integrations Jadranka Joksimović following the meeting with the minister for European affairs in the French government Amélie de Montchalin, said yesterday.

Joksimović added that the ‘’communication channels’’ between France and Serbia had been opened additionally following last years’ visit of the French president Emmanuel Macron.’’ France expresses interest in the increasing presence in Serbia and in the region’’, Joksimović stated as reported by the Ministry for European Integration.

As stated in the report, Joksimović and Montchalin talked about how France sees the future of enlargement, what the methodology that France initially suggested actually meant from their point of view, which was later revised by the European Commission and other members into the second proposal of the said methodology, what the motives are, how long France expects the debate within the very EU to last and how they see the future of Serbia within the frames of the EU and on the road to the EU’’, Joksimović said. She emphasized that the talk with Montchalin was meaningful and open, primarily on a political level, that is, it did not concern merely the technical aspects of the process and the methodology.

They talked about, as stated by Joksimović, the essential views on the future and the EU, as well as France’s views on the Union and also about France’s role in the Western Balkans.

- Minister Montchalin clearly emphasized that France really wants to actively return to the Western Balkans, bearing in mind that Serbia is, after all, one of the most important countries in the region, both politically and economically, and that France’s interest in being present in Serbia has increased, both politically and economically, Joksimović stated.
D.D.

Foto BETAPHOTO MILAN OBRADOVIC

Economic interests

During the meeting between Joksimović and Montchalin there was also talk concerning the numerous strategic investments and the influence of France’s economy on the important projects in Serbia, among which is France’s concession on the airport in Belgrade, as well as the projects which are still being intensely negotiated, especially the Belgrade metro.  ‘’An interest for the continued economic presence in Serbia was shown, which I think is a good thing, because that means that France appreciates the reforms made in Serbia, which also recognizes the progress in the rule of law and the reforms, emphasizing that they should be happening more quickly, because that is what is expected the most from us, and they also recognize both the economic potential of Serbia and the countries in the region’’, Joksimović said, who had a meeting with the representatives of the France-Serbia Friendship Group at the French parliament, which was presided by Živka Park, at which the senators were also present.