Has France's stance changed over the years?

Some have also recalled France's request to link visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens on the part of the European Union with the entry into force of the European Information System and Travel Authority (ETIAS).

Kosovo's first ambassador to France, Muhamed Towers, disagrees with these points.

But Radio Free Europe's Europe editor, Richard Jozwiak, believes France is not exploiting all the capacities it has to help Kosovo.

France's “

Through a communique, on April 23rd, France's presidency has stressed that Paris' support for Kosovo's independence and for the country's European integration remains steadfast.

Even Towers, once professor of philosophy at the University of Pristina and later at Paris 8, has told Radio Free Europe that minor shades, unlike other Western countries, of any concrete problem, do not mean changing the state.

Even Americans and Britons have roughly the same requirements regarding the resolution of problems that Kosovo has”, he said, insisting that Western countries co-ordinate before any major action.

Commenting on rumours that draw France close to Serbia, Towers has said that although both countries have traditionally cultivated good relations, the big turn has been made when the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has intervened against Yugoslav Army targets in 1999.

Towers has said that since the 1999 meetings he had with then French President Jacques Chirac, he has seen France's determination to help Kosovo, while confirming that the same atmosphere has continued in Paris during 2008-2016, when serving as ambassador to France.

France has been among the first countries to recognise Kosovo's independence, while according to the Tower, the French diplomatic network has helped Kosovo greatly with recognition and membership in international organisations.

As a concrete example, he has cited France's help in Kosovo's integration into the International Francophony Organisation.

French diplomats have understood the pressure Russia has put on 10 African countries so that they do not vote for Kosovo membership. Following a request President Franz Holland has sent to the heads of states that have expressed reservations, all have been hired for Kosovo membership”, Towershi, author of two books on Kosovo's relations with France, has said.

As huge support for Kosovo, Towers has also cited France's contribution to the International Court of Justice, which in 2010 found that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not in conflict with international law. He has said senior French law experts prepared a 70-page report to protect Kosovo's case.

What about the situation today?

From many contacts with its sources in Brussels, Jozwiak believes France can do more.

According to him, it may be more vocal for removing the restrictive measures the EU has imposed on Kosovo following tensions in the north, as well as not blocking the introduction of punitive measures against Serbia for the attack that took place in Zvecan Banjska in 2023.

The responsibility for the attack has been taken over by Milan Radojic, former vice president of the Serbian List, the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo, who enjoys Belgrade's support but Kosovo holds the Serbian state responsible, even though he denies involvement.

I don't think France is naturally against Kosovo, but it is not fair mediator”, Jozwiak said, citing that France is not the only one with such an approach, as an atmosphere for Serbia is dominant throughout the European bloc.

Commenting on criticism of France after reconciliation to sell weapons to Serbia, editor of REL estimates that not everything is political: “Economia in Europe, in general, is not good. States are not allowed to sell weapons in Russia a large market that has disappeared while even the trade of what can be sold to China is limited. They are looking for new markets, and Serbia is a good market in that respect. It's an economic calculator”.

Even a source of Radio Free Europe in Brussels believes that not everything is political. While taking the visa example, this source has said that France has not been against removing them for Kosovo, but the extremely bad “experience” with asylum seekers, following the removal of visas for other Western Balkan countries earlier, has made Paris more careful about the future.

Source Radio Free Europe has suggested that the individual character of diplomats be considered. According to him, while the Germans are more cautious in their emotions, the French know how to express their grief publicly.