This is France's Strategy for Kosovo, other Balkan countries

The strategy was published in French, Macedonian and Albanian on the French Embassy's website in Skopje, a day after a summit of leaders of Western Balkan countries took place in Berlin.

President Macron has stressed drafting the strategy based on the analysis that the countries of the region Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have made significant progress, however, many reforms that would allow permanent stabilisation and response to the challenges facing them.

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Since the beginning of 2000 and the end of armed conflicts related to the breakup of Yugoslavia, the democratic, economic and social development of Western Balkan countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia) has recognised visible progress. Slovenia became a member of the European Union in 2004, while Croatia became a member of 2013.

However, numerous reforms are needed to enable the region to stabilise forever and to respond to the challenges it faces:   politics (resolved disagreements, even though the Prespa Agreement presents an obvious progress and an example of regional dialogue); economic and social issues difficulties during the permanent establishment of rule of law; security issues that deviate the region from its European perspective.

Based on this findings, the president of the Republic of France called for the adoption of a concrete strategy for the Western Balkans, in such a way that France will have a greater commitment to stabilising six Western Balkan countries, which are not members of the European Union, in terms of their economic and social development and in the direction of strengthening the rule of law.

The concrete measures.

1. France will intensify its political relations with the countries of the region. The president of the Republic of France will visit Serbia in July. The Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Affairs will visit Albania and Kosovo this year. In addition, other visits by government members and MPs to all countries in the region will help strengthen our relations. 2 / 1 France will strengthen its bilateral co-operation with the countries of the region in four areas: 1. Economic and social development through the intervention of the French Development Agency (AFD) 

An intergovernmental agreement with Serbia was signed on 25 February. Five other agreements are to negotiate. The AFD will support the regional integration of Western Balkan countries to help develop and stabilise them. It will support the transition towards sustainable development, with the priority of the transition of energy and environmental transition, as well as the territorial transition, areas in which the AFD will be able to rate its experience and French expertise, while simultaneously contributing to the achievement of climate goals, defined by French authorities. The AFD will also implement projects in the field of gender equality and support reconciliation and youth, through the Regional Office for Co-operation among Youths in the Western Balkans (RIKO), (founded according to the Franco-German Youth Office model OFAZH). Annual aid provided by AFD-JA (begins 100m to 150m euros) will serve as a constructive support for financing other donors, particularly the German Credit Institute for Reconstruction ( KfV, with which there is close cooperation.

2. Security

 Fighting illegal trade in small and light weapons: further implementation of Franco-German instructions for mobilizing the countries of the region, through concrete measures (particularly about security, the fight against human trafficking networks and the creation of illegal weapons stocks) and through co-ordination of international community assistance in the direction of combating arms trafficking. Strengthening our bilateral co-operation, including: creating permanent intelligence units in the area of criminality (UPRC). Fighting terrorism and radicalism with support for establishing platforms for reporting or presenting illegal content on the internet. Strengthening our operational co-operation mechanism for internal security issues. 3. Righteousness

 Continued technical co-operation in the fight against drug trafficking, arms trafficking and human trafficking, and the fight against organised crime and corruption. The establishment of new co-operation in the area of financial and economic crime, the fight against trade with cultural goods and protected types, which can also be sources for financing terrorism. Establish joint investigation teams with all countries in the region;

4. Protection

 Intensification of exchange with countries in the region (political-strategic dialogues, visits by military authorities). Copying the command of the EUFOR-Althea operation on 27 March. The largest option for training officers for Western Balkan countries in French training schools, as well as citizens from these countries, at the Institute for Higher National Protection Studies (IHEDN). Support for the involvement of Western Balkan countries in joint peacekeeping operations abroad.

3 / 1 France's strategy for the Western Balkans aims to support and meet the European Union's move to support the region's approach to Europe.

It also complements activities undertaken under the Berlin process, in which France participates since its establishment and will be implemented part-time under the Franco-German framework: the fight against illegal trafficking of small and light arms; support for the Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RIKO) Co-operation between the French Agency for Development and the German Credit Institute, destined for reconstruction; joint visits to the region.