Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović stated today that French President Emmanuel Macron had conveyed a message in Belgrade that internal EU reforms did not exclude the enlargement process, adding that that this kind of “parallelism“ represented a significant and positive signal for Serbia.
Joksimović told O2 television that it was not true that nothing new had been heard from President Macron because, in her words, he talked about parallelism, namely, about not giving up on the intention to reform the EU in order for it to become more unified, increase its solidarity and make it stronger as a global player, noting that he had indicated that this process did not exclude the process of enlargement for those states that carried out reforms and had a wish to join the EU.
„The words he uttered are extremely important, because so far we were frequently told- first reforms, then enlargement. This parallelism is a significant and positive signal that can encourage us“, said Joksimović.
She stated that she did not think that people should be discouraged, that the door to the EU had been closed, in particular in the light of bilateral cooperation and partnership that obliged both Serbia and France – namely, on the one hand, Serbia to become more committed to reforms and, on the other, France to maintain a positive attitude towards each country that shows clear capability and readiness to help the EU become stronger.
Speaking about 2025, Joksimović said that the date of Serbia’s and Montenegro’s possible entry into the EU was mentioned in the 2018 Credible Enlargement Strategy presented by former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, but stressed that this strategy was not aimed at strengthening the position of candidate countries, but empowering the EU, partly through a credible enlargement policy.
She stated that Macron was aware of the EU's biggest advantage, namely that the EU, through contractual relations with countries striving to become candidates, has the power to integrate them and provide assistance in the transformation of these societies, thus fully opening its markets and gaining new ones.
„No one else in the world has this, not even the big, global actors, like Russia, China, the US ... No one has the advantage the EU has in terms of integration. Macron himself is not willing to relinquish that power the EU possesses, he is only seeking a way to make it more efficient and that everyone, including Serbia when it becomes a member, can contribute to it and not reduce the capacities of the EU,” continued Joksimović.
Joksimović also referred to Le Monde's question on the rule of law at the press conference held by Emmanuel Macron and Aleksandar Vučić, stating that the issue concerning the European Commission's Progress Report on Serbia was not correctly interpreted, as the overall assessment suggested that there had been some progress in the area rule of law.
“There has been stagnation in some areas, but no backsliding has been recorded anywhere. Even Macron said that economic reforms and reforms in the area of the rule of law, had unequivocally provided grounds for the expectation that Serbia would credibly continue on its path to the EU”, said Joksimović.
She stated that Serbia would not have opened any new chapters in June if there had been any backsliding, adding that she believed that new chapters would be opened by the end of the year.
Speaking about Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Serbia, Joksimović said that it was a fact that France had been politically and, to a lesser extent, economically absent from the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe for a long period of time.
She said that it was undeniable that Macron, during the post-election peak at the European Parliament and calculations within EU institutions, had found the time, on the day before the elections for new European officials, to pay a two-day visit to Serbia, which sufficiently speaks about how much attention Macron had dedicated to promoting good relations with Serbia.
She also noted that Macron had not accidentally chosen to visit only Serbia in the region, adding that it was not just a matter of traditional friendship, as it did not hold much significance if it didn’t reflect on future policy. The visit was also crucial for raising France’s international reputation, as it renewed and expanded its influence, which always resonates positively at home ground.
“The future policy of France undoubtedly shows commitment towards strengthening relations with Serbia as a central country in the region”, noted Joksimović, adding that economic, cultural and political components were present during Macron’s visit to Serbia.
She recalled that she had signed an agreement on the French Development Agency with French Minister Nathalie Loiseau in the first half of the year, which will start operating in Serbia as of September.
She also stated that Vučić had, in a sincere and dignified manner, conveyed Serbia’s wish to renew relations and raise its partnership with France to a higher level, stressing that the visit was mutually beneficial and that it was also important for the reputation of Emmanuel Macron, both internal and international.
She also said that such a visit was binding both for the host and for the guest, and that the presidents had expressed willingness and commitment to strengthening good relations.
“If you put your hand on your heart and say France and Serbia are in it, these are binding words for a president (Macron), just as Vučić has shown a sincere wish for us to be a reliable and good partner not only to the EU but also, primarily, to France“.Source: О2 and Tanjug
