A delegation of two National Assembly Committees – Foreign Affairs and European Integrations, headed by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic and Laszlo Varga talked today at the National Assembly House to the members of the France-Western Balkans Friendship Group of the Senate of the Republic of France visiting Belgrade from 12 to 15 April. The French delegation was headed by the Group Head Jean-Pierre Michel. In the meeting, it was estimated that Serbia and France share strong historic and friendly ties, and that both sides wish to improve overall bilateral relations.

The French parliamentarians stressed that Serbia is the most important country in the region for France and that they are interested in developing privileged relations with it. The expressed their belief that Serbia’s accession to the European Union is in Serbia’s, as well as France’s, best interest, and their readiness to assist Serbia to gain European Union candidacy status.

They were particularly interested in Serbia’s relations with other states in the region and preparations for EU accession.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dragoljub Micunovic responded that Serbia’s relations with other states in the region were much better than before and that efforts were expended to make them even more stable. Micunovic stressed that Serbia favours peaceful dialogue in resolving the Kosovo-Metohija issue and has to that end requested the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

In the meeting with the French parliamentarians, European Integrations Committee Chairman Laszlo Varga said that Serbia expected a positive report of the Hague Tribunal’s Prosecutor and ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, as well as a positive decision of the EU Council of Ministers on the submitted membership candidacy. Varga pointed out that France’s support of the actualisation of the candidacy would be very important for Serbia.

The members of the France-Western Balkans Friendship Group went on to meet with Natasa Vuckovic, president and the members of the Serbia-France Friendship Group at the National Assembly House. The Serbian delegation members told the French parliamentarians that Serbia’s accession to the European Union was a priority and presented the political and social reforms in Serbia.

The French parliamentarians repeated that they consider Serbia a key partner in the Western Balkans and that they shall help the membership candidacy to reach the European Commission and that Serbia becomes an official EU membership candidate as soon as possible.