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Experts: There will be no progress for the Western Balkans under France's EU presidency

Photo: europa.eu

The question of the European future in the Western Balkans will be among the priority topics of the French presidency of the Council of the EU, but serious progress on the subject is unlikely. The reason is the presidential election in April in France and the challenges surrounding the pandemic. However, the dialogue on the topic will continue, experts commented for BNR.

"France cannot fail to realize the contradictions in the Western Balkans - the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Authoritarianism is growing," said Raina Assenova, journalist from the Bulgarian News Agency BTA. "It is in Europe's strategic interest to change this situation, as there are forces trying to destabilize Europe through the Balkans. Russia, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are fighting for influence in the Balkans, and this is in strong competition with the EU" , Assenova thinks.



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