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Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron met late in the afternoon on April 29 in Berlin to hold a summit with the Balkan countries and try to relaunch the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, whose relations are at their worst. years after their war conflict.
Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have therefore announced their agreement to work together for the stability of the Balkans, where Paris promises to " re-engage ". While negotiations organized under the aegis of the European Union are at a standstill, Berlin and Paris have decided to intervene. Because relations between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have further deteriorated this autumn, twenty years after their bloody conflict. Especially since Pristina introduced 100% customs duties on imports of Serbian products.
Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel therefore called on Serbia and Kosovo to resume their dialogue, before any progress on a possible accession to the EU. " Germany and France want to show through this meeting that we bear a common responsibility for this region. It is in Europe's interest that the situation in this area evolves positively, "said Angela Merkel.
" The introduction of customs duties is going in the wrong direction "
" Relations between Serbia and Kosovo will be on the agenda . What role can we play? What can we do to make the situation even more insoluble than it seems to be today ? The introduction of higher tariffs between Serbia and Kosovo is going in the wrong direction. This is an open discussion today. Decisions will not be made. We honestly want to talk together. The solutions to be found must be positive for the entire region. Agreements to the detriment of some countries are to be avoided. Tonight's format should help to move in this direction, "concluded the German Chancellor.
Work towards the stability of the region around four axes
" Our desire is to be able to work together on this policy of stability around four main axes: economic and social development; security with the initiative we launched eighteen months ago to combat small arms trafficking and other initiatives to strengthen our joint actions against terrorism, organized crime or irregular migration; defense, with the taking of command at the end of March of the European peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the maintenance of our cooperation; and a fourth axis, with the justice and the reinforcement of our cooperation to fight against the economic and financial crime ", detailed Emmanuel Macron, the French president.
In addition to the German Chancellor, the French President and the High Representative of the European Union Fédérica Mogherini, all the leaders of the Balkan countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia were invited to this informal summit.
LIVE | Before the meeting with the Western Balkan countries, joint statement with German Chancellor Angela MERKEL.https: //t.co/IPK8BnjpvZ
Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 29, 2019► See also: Russia: Sergey Lavrov worried about the situation in Kosovo and the Balkans