On his visit to Belgrade in 2019, President Macron addressed the Serbian nation in front of the Monument to France that stands at the heart of Kalemegdan Park. Belgrade is the only city in the world with a monument to France. It was a beautiful illustration of the friendship between two old European countries. It was also a promise on the road to Europe ~ René Troccaz
Speaking in this exclusive address for CorD Magazine, Ambassador René Troccaz, France’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, adds: “I’d like to remind your readers that the EU isn’t only a market. Of course, it is also that, but we must always remember why it was created at the initiative of France and Germany in 1957. The aim of this creation, unprecedented in human history, was not primarily prosperity. It was peace. This message remains as relevant as ever.
“EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, and thus to Serbia, is a priority for France.
“This ambition is all the more pressing given the risk of instability on our continent as a result of the war in Ukraine.
“We must therefore get down to work on the EU accession process, and remain faithful to the commitment made at the Thessaloniki European Summit od 2003, which officially opened the European accession prospects of the Balkan countries.
“The issue of our continent’s stability is essential, but there is another obvious point to bear in mind. The countries of the Western Balkans are European. We are part of the same family, each with our own differences. And the EU respects these cultural differences. The natural place for these countries is therefore within the EU. It is within this framework of peace, prosperity, territorial integrity and democratic values that we must work together to build our future.
“This is what President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron has said during his official visits in Serbia, drawing on the historic Franco-Serbian friendship.
“We all know that this ambition is demanding. It presupposes reforms and a clear commitment to an effectively functioning rule of law. These requirements satisfy the aspirations of our peoples.
Infrastructure needs to be strengthened and modernised throughout the region. This is particularly true for transport and energy
“Of course, there are differences between each of the Balkan countries. Some have advanced more than others in the European accession process, while others are slightly less developed. But the essential thing is to stay the course and maintain the tempo. From this point of view, France supports the efforts of its partners and encourages reforms. We must also work to overcome the tensions that sometimes remain as a legacy of the past. But we do this as partners. This is logical, since the countries of the Western Balkans are destined to become full members of the EU.
“The EU wants to facilitate upgrading and development. Infrastructure needs to be strengthened and modernised throughout the region. This is particularly true for transport and energy. We need to open up the Balkan countries and better connect them to their EU neighbours. It is with this same logic in mind that we’re working towards closer integration between the Balkans and the European Single Market. All these efforts are steps in the right direction. This is all the more natural for the Balkans, where the vast majority of trade and investment is with the EU. There’s no comparison: we are your number one customer and your number one supplier. Many of the region’s young people study in the EU, while we have a lot of cultural exchanges. Millions of tourists from the EU come to the Balkans each year. Large Balkan expat communities are established in EU countries. In other words, we are already intertwined.
“The EU has tools to speed up this movement. I will cite one example: the EU has established a “growth plan” that mobilises six billion euros for the Western Balkans over a three-year period (2024-2027). This substantial aid is aimed at speeding up reforms and bringing our respective markets closer together. With these resources, the Balkan countries will receive support comparable to that provided by the EU to its member states under the cohesion policy.
“For its part, France is actively involved. The country’s development agency (AFD) has been active in your region since 2019. It alone has invested over 1.3 billion euros to the Balkans. So, we’re part of an overall process and we support it strongly. There are obstacles, but also hopes and very concrete prospects.
“This overall approach should also encourage our companies to return to the Balkans. This is already the case for France, with major civil and military contracts having been signed with Serbia and other countries in the region. This is both a very tangible investment and a sign of trust between partners and the business world. Other European countries are doing the same, and that’s great. The strengthening of economic relations is obviously an essential dimension of the relationship.
The EU has established a “growth plan” that mobilises six billion euros for the Western Balkans over a threeyear period (2024-2027)
“When it comes to the economy, I’d like to remind your readers that the EU isn’t only a market. Of course, it is also that, but we must always remember why it was created at the initiative of France and Germany in 1957. The aim of this creation, unprecedented in human history, was not primarily prosperity. It was peace. This message remains as relevant as ever.
“Our political dialogue is intense. Our authorities are in contact with all Western Balkan leaders. Here I shall limit myself to mentioning 2023’s first official visit of a French head of state to Albania since the country became independent. Of course, I must also note President Macron’s two major visits to Serbia (2019 and 2024).
“With this in mind, I’d like to conclude with a powerful image: that of President Macron on a visit to Belgrade in 2019, addressing the Serbian nation in front of the monument to France at the heart of Kalemegdan Park. Belgrade is the only city in the world with a monument to France and this address was a beautiful illustration of the friendship between two old European countries. It was also a promise on the road to Europe.”
| FUTURE It is within this framework of peace, prosperity, territorial integrity and democratic values that we must work together to build our future | SINGLE MARKET We need to open up the Balkan countries and better connect them to their EU neighbours. We’re working towards closer integration between the Balkans and the European Single Market | THE EU There’s no comparison: we’re your number one customer and your number one supplier |
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Photos by Zoran Žestić, MFA Serbia