"The EU and its member states need a strong and democratic Serbia under its wing, and Serbia needs a strong and sovereign EU to protect and promote its interests while respecting its identity."
This is what French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in an editorial for today's issue of the Serbian pro-government newspaper Politika.
The text was published hours before the start of the official visit of the French head of state to Serbia, which will continue on August 30.
"Like France, I am convinced, Serbia aspires to independence and sovereignty, which only the EU, possessing the means of its strategic autonomy, can give it. We will build this strategic autonomy together by equipping ourselves with the means to guarantee our security and by strengthening our defense cooperation," Macron said.
The French president wrote that the two countries will build this strategic autonomy and "in the field of industry in all the sectors in which we need to unite in order to be more resistant to the relentless international competition, for example in the field of critical raw materials, medicines, artificial intellect'.
"This is also where Serbia plays a key role within the enlarged and strengthened EU," Macron noted.
He claims that the partnership between France and Serbia is constantly developing.
"As proof of this, I point to the large projects in which first-class French companies are involved; the support provided by the French Development Agency for numerous activities in Serbia, especially in the field of energy transition. I also cite the renewal of the exchange of views on an intellectual level, as evidenced by France's participation as a guest of honor at the Belgrade Book Fair a few months ago," Macron wrote.
The French head of state believes that despite the already strong proximity between Serbia and the EU, the prospect of Belgrade joining the bloc does not attract as much as it should.
"In the background there are concerns and fatigue, especially in relation to the pace of accession negotiations, but sometimes also a kind of dislike and even mistrust in relation to the European Union, which have their source in recent history and in conflicting or conflicting memories" , Macron emphasized.
"Serbia, of course, belongs to Europe by its geography, but not only that, it also belongs to Europe by its history; the story of a proud nation that has a strong identity that it has never given up," he added.
The French leader noted that today Serbia's exchange with EU countries is much richer than with any other country or group of countries.
"Economic exchange, of course, of which almost two-thirds is with the EU, but also people-to-people exchange through Serbia's participation in the Erasmus Plus and Horizon Europe programs." In the field of art, Serbia is already contributing in a fruitful and creative way to the European cultural space, and I look forward to discovering the treasures of Matica Srabska's wonderful collections during my visit," said Macron.
The French President concluded that "it is time to look together at history without prejudice, so that it no longer represents an obstacle, as it is today, between us and even more between the countries of the region that are invited to be together under the auspices of the EU . Historians from all EU member states and candidate countries could probably help us along this path by engaging in collective work on it."
Macron pointed out that "Serbia, rightly convinced of the uniqueness of its destiny and sometimes hardened by the challenges it faces, should not fear for its identity and sovereignty with its accession to the EU."
The French president said that Serbia has its place under the auspices of the EU "as a great central state in this region, which is capable not only of being the main builder of the future of reconciliation and cooperation in the region, but also, if it wants, to be inspiring and driving force'.
Regarding the Serbian position on the war in Ukraine, the French president said it was an illusion that Serbia could play the role of a balancer between the great powers.
"The question that is being asked of Serbia, but also of all of us Europeans, at this moment, even more than the question of the need to maintain a united front against Russia, is the question of the type of society in which our youth will want to live tomorrow. I don't doubt that. to this question, young people in Serbia will have the same answer as young people in France," Macron wrote.
Regarding Kosovo, Macron stated that he would personally continue to commit to the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement and, above all, to the creation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASO) in Northern Kosovo.
He recalled that in 2019 he "spoke about the necessary courage to reach a compromise". Macron added that at the time France was convinced that this courage existed in Serbia.
"The path we have proposed to the necessary normalization preserves the essence: the possibility for Serbs to live in Kosovo in compliance with the law without giving up their identity or their natural ties to Serbia; but also the presence of guarantees regarding the preservation of the Serbian cultural and religious heritage," the French president explained. | BGNES
