Les Echos: Paris is offering Serbia assistance in boosting the national reform

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Paris is offering Serbia assistance in boosting the national reform, as well as a model for the country's EU accession, the French Les Echos says in an article on French President Macron's visit to Belgrade. The visit is expected to "rehabilitate a seriously damaged dialogue between Paris and Belgrade."

Quoting officials close to President Macron, the Paris-based business daily listed "three weaknesses and obstacles" on Serbia's path to the EU. "Several states, including France, are refusing to allow new members into the already weakened and doubtful EU club... In addition, the candidates are ill-prepared as well. The European Commission has stated in its last country report on Serbia that serious flaws existed with respect to the pluralism of the media, corruption, money laundering, organized crime, and the judiciary."

Bearing this in mind, "France is offering Serbia assistance in improving its model (for the reforms and EU accession)," officials from Macron's inner circle said to the Les Echos.

"In the eyes of Paris, settling the explosive situation between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo must be a precondition for Serbia's EU membership," the French daily suggested.

"Paris wants to play an active role in Serbia again, because, among other things, it doesn't want to let Russia and China take over," Les Echos said.