France views Serbia’s EU accession as "priority"

France views Serbia's EU accession as "priority"

PARIS -- France views Serbia's EU membership as one of its priorities, says Harlem Desir, state secretary for European affairs at the French Foreign Ministry.

He made the statement during a joint news conference with visiting Serbian Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU Integration Jadranka Joksimović, who said that as a membership candidate, Serbia is "a sincere and responsible partner."

Serbia's successful accession to the EU is a priority objective for France and we will be with Serbia in all stages of the accession process, Desir said.

Desir told reporters that France was pushing for the adoption of a decision to open at least one negotiating chapter, "for example, Chapter 32," as soon as possible, and lauded Serbia's significant contribution to the stability of South East Europe and its EU accession process.

"For Serbia, it is important that it has in France a sincere and objective partner on the path to European integration," said Joksimović.

She explained that by "objective" she meant evaluation based on political and economic criteria and efforts to improve society in a palpable and efficient way, which indeed were the principles the EU had been founded on.

Joksimović thanked France for its sincere support and commitment to helping send a good signal from the EU by it opening a negotiating chapter by the end of the current or beginning of the following year.

"We are not eager for specific dates, but rather for quality and we would like this to be recognized by all EU countries just as France has recognized it," said the minister.

Serbia is aware of the obligations that France and other members...