[ad_1]
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the European Union should review its relations with the Western Balkans.
He said that the EU should offer the Balkan states a “sincere” perspective for membership in the European bloc.
Of the Western Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro have made the most progress in EU membership talks. Northern Macedonia and Albania have failed to start membership talks, as Bulgaria has vetoed its history and language dispute with Skopje. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the latest in the EU integration process.
France, which has held the six-month presidency of the EU since January 1, has signaled that the presidency will focus on the Western Balkans region.
The Eiffel Tower illuminated with the EU flag to mark the assumption of the presidency of the bloc by official Paris. France, 31 December 2021.
Meanwhile, during a separate speech before the European Parliament, Macron also spoke about the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. He said EU countries should work together for a new stability and security agreement, which they could then discuss with Russia.
Referring to the “destabilizing effort” on the continent, Macron, speaking in the capacity of chairman of the EU Presidency, said that Europe wants to find a political answer to the conflict in Ukraine.
“The security of our continent is inseparable,” Macron said, referring to Russia. He added that Europe needs to define its security standards.
Macron said Europe should “put itself in a position to meet (standards)”, but did not elaborate.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is staying in Kiev, warned that Russia could launch a new offensive against Ukraine.
Kiev and the West are worried that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, as Moscow has amassed about 100,000 troops along the border separating the two countries.REL/
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
