Western Balkans - Jean-Yves Le Drian’s participation in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans (8 June 2021)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, took part via video conference today in the meeting of foreign ministers of the countries participating in the Berlin Process, including six Western Balkans countries (Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia).

The minister underscored the priority France attributes to the security, stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans, within the framework of France’s strategy for the region. In this context, he stressed the need for the Balkans countries to make progress with respect to reconciliation and the resolution of bilateral disputes, in a European spirit, as well as to strengthen fundamental reforms, notably with respect to the rule law, which is at the heart of European values.

He reaffirmed France’s support for the European prospects of the Western Balkans, based on the new methodology approved by the EU in 2020, as well as for regional cooperation, which is a key aspect of the European rapprochement of these countries.

He urged the Balkans countries to demonstrate a spirit of compromise in order to achieve concrete results with respect to the implementation of the Common Regional Market project, which will be at the heart of the Berlin Process summit on July 5.