- Title: Macron says 'ready' to consider Slovenian call for Bosnia EU accession
- Date: 1st September 2022
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (AGENCY POOL) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, WALKING OUT OF ELYSEE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE MACRON STANDING BY ELYSEE STEPS SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER, ROBERT GOLOB, WALKING OUT OF CAR, WALKING TOWARDS MACRON / MACRON AND GOLOB SHAKING HANDS AND EMBRACING MACRON AND GOLOB SHAKING HANDS, THEN WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "The stability of the western Balkans is absolutely critical, and it's clear we perfectly perceived during one of our latest European Council (meetings) the frustration and the resentment increasing in the region. I think what we managed to fix between Bulgaria and North Macedonia at the end of the French presidency (of the EU) was critical to unlock the situation for Albania and North Macedonia. But at the same time, it's clear that Bosnia Herzegovina is now stuck in a situation quite unique in the western Balkans. So, I'm totally available to have a full-fledged discussion to consider the proposal made by Mr. Prime Minister (Golob) and pushed by some colleagues with one perspective and one objective on my side - we have to provide the maximum chance to create peace and stability in the region." REPUBLICAN GUARDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "And it is clear, if we are listening, that we have increasing external forces using this situation, tensions between communities to destabilise not just Bosnia Herzegovina but the closest neighbours and the whole region. I think we cannot accept that. So, if the European perspective is part of the package with conditions to fix it, I'm totally ready to consider it." MACRON SHAKING HANDS WITH GOLOB MACRON THANKING JOURNALISTS / MACRON AND GOLOB WALKING UP ELYSEE STEPS, POSING FOR PICTURES, ENTERING ELYSEE
- Embargoed: 15th September 2022 13:16
- Keywords: Bosnia EU France Golob Macron Slovenia Ukraine
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001200601092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (September 1) he stands “ready†to consider a proposal by Slovenia to put Bosnia next on the list of nations to be considered for European Union accession.
“It's clear that Bosnia Herzegovina is now stuck in a situation quite unique in the western Balkans. So, I'm totally available to have a full-fledged discussion to consider the proposal,†Macron said as he welcomed Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on Thursday.
Golob in June issued the proposal to grant EU membership candidate status to Bosnia.
The bloc had decided to accord candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova amid the Ukraine conflict, although both countries face a long road ahead before they obtain full membership.
Macron said he will discuss humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine, as well as rebuilding efforts, with Golob during the prime minister’s visit.
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