Serbia – Meeting between Jean-Yves Le Drian and Ivica Dacic (20 February 2018)
Jean-Yves Le Drian received Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, today in Paris.
During the meeting, the two ministers signaled their desire to strengthen the cooperative and friendly relations between Paris and Belgrade; the minister will soon visit Belgrade in the context of the commemorations of the end of World War One.
Following the publication by the European Commission on February 6 of its Western Balkans strategy, Jean-Yves Le Drian wanted to reaffirm France’s commitment, as expressed by President Macron at the Sorbonne, to the accession by the Western Balkans countries to a reformed European Union, once these countries have fulfilled the necessary conditions.
The minister for Europe and foreign affairs reaffirmed that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the European Union is key to ensuring the lasting stabilization of the entire region and must lead to full normalization between both countries based on a comprehensive agreement.
Lastly, the two ministers discussed the prospect of the summit between the EU and the Balkans due to take place in Sofia on May 17. Mr. Le Drian hoped that a “positive agenda” for the Western Balkans would be promoted at the summit, based on concrete EU support measures for the transformation efforts expected by the states in the region, within the framework of their European rapprochement.