The French envoy for the Western Balkans, Rene Troccaz, has made a statement about his assignment, emphasizing that this position, which he has held for a little over two years, was created at the request of the French state, "to promote the French position in the Balkan region and to support the expansion of the European Union towards the Western Balkans", reports Gazeta Express.
Troccaz, in his statement, said that the main challenge for France, as well as for Europe, in the Balkan region is "stability", and that the latter is achieved through EU enlargement in the Balkans.
"The main challenge for France and for Europe in the Balkan region is stability. Stability is achieved through the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans. This is a process that we develop together with our European partners, with our neighbors and friends from the Balkan countries. This is the essence of our work in this region," he said.
The French envoy also stated that some countries from the Balkan region are more advanced, while others are less, but, he emphasizes, "it is essential" that all have the prospect of joining the EU.
"The Western Balkan countries have had a European perspective for 23 years, since 2003. Things are progressing: some countries are more advanced, like Montenegro and Albania, while others are less advanced, but we support all of them. It is essential that all Balkan countries have the perspective of one day joining the European Union," he declared.
Finally, Troccas also said that the Western Balkans are important for France.
"The Western Balkans are important for France, just as they are important for Austria, which is a neighbor to these countries. For this reason, our two countries, Austria and France, cooperate regularly – and perhaps increasingly – on the Western Balkans. It is the issue of stability, of neighborhood and of the European perspective that motivates us both in Paris and in Vienna," he concluded. /Express newspaper
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