French President Emmanuel Macron said today that the European Union should review its relations with the Western Balkans. He said that the EU should offer the Balkan countries a “sincere” perspective for membership in the European bloc.

Of the Western Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro have made the most progress in EU membership talks. North Macedonia and Albania have failed to start membership talks, as Bulgaria has vetoed its history and language dispute with Skopje. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the latest in the EU integration process.

France, which has held the six-month presidency of the EU since January 1, has signaled that the presidency will focus on the Western Balkans region.

Meanwhile, during a separate speech before the European Parliament, Macron also spoke about the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. He said EU countries should work together for a new stability and security agreement, which they could then discuss with Russia.

Referring to the “destabilizing effort” on the continent, Macron, speaking in the capacity of chairman of the EU Presidency, said that Europe wants to find a political answer to the conflict in Ukraine.

/Klara Ruci/