"France wants Serbia to be EU's 29th member"

BELGRADE France wants Serbia to be the next country to join the EU, France's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Thierry Repentin said on Monday. His host in Belgrade, Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, said that he believed the two countries would continue to improve on their already good relations. "France wants Serbia to be EU's 29th member" It is France's desire that Serbia become the 29th member of the EU, the French minister said at a joint news conference with Dacic in Belgrade. Dacic and Repentin agreed that Belgrade and Paris had extremely good political relations, adding that they wanted them improved even further, also in economy, defence, judiciary, police and culture. There is general agreement that the two nations have to do everything to bring their relations back to what is in line with the traditional friendship between Serbia and France, Dacic stated. Serbia thinks France should have a stronger presence there and looks forward to its return to Serbia, Dacic noted. After this year's meetings between top officials of the two countries, French President Francois Hollande decided to appoint a special representative for the Balkans, Alain Richard, who will be tasked with improving the relations with Serbia, particularly in economy, Repentin remarked. France will continue to support Serbia's EU integration, he said, offering assistance in strengthening the rule of law. Serbia has to continue with its reforms, political, economic and institutional, Repentin stressed. Repentin and Dacic are seen in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug) Tanjug

"France wants Serbia to be EU's 29th member"

It is France's desire that Serbia become the 29th member of the EU, the French minister said at a joint news conference with Dačić in Belgrade.

Dačić and Repentin agreed that Belgrade and Paris had extremely good political relations, adding that they wanted them improved even further, also in economy, defence, judiciary, police and culture.

There is general agreement that the two nations have to do everything to bring their relations back to what is in line with the traditional friendship between Serbia and France, Dačić stated.

Serbia thinks France should have a stronger presence there and looks forward to its return to Serbia, Dačić noted.

After this year's meetings between top officials of the two countries, French President Francois Hollande decided to appoint a special representative for the Balkans, Alain Richard, who will be tasked with improving the relations with Serbia, particularly in economy, Repentin remarked.

France will continue to support Serbia's EU integration, he said, offering assistance in strengthening the rule of law.

Serbia has to continue with its reforms, political, economic and institutional, Repentin stressed.