France, the Western Balkans, and the European Union: Boosting Societal Cooperation
France, the Western Balkans, and the European Union: Boosting Societal Cooperation

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić, Miloš Pavković, Kristina Nikolić
Subject(s): Civil Society, International relations/trade, Politics and society, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Centar za evropske politike CEP
Keywords: France; Western Balkans; Engagement; Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO); French Development Agency; National Strategy; EU enlargement; Council of the EU; Policy impact; Civil society;
Summary/Abstract: Although the relations between France and the Western Balkans (WB) have a long history, the intensity of French engagement in this region has varied over time and today there is arguably space for improvement. In fact, after two decades of modest interest in the region, France has recently signalled its intention to intensify its engagement in the Western Balkans. Over the last several years, France has actively supported the creation and development of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), extended the mandate of the French Development Agency to the countries of the region, and adopted the National Strategy for the Western Balkans. Considering that France holds the presidency over the Council of the EU in the first half of 2022, at a time when there is an apparent enlargement impasse, France has an excellent opportunity to increase French, but also the EU’s, level of impact in this region in the upcoming period. For this reason, how and to what extent France will engage with the Western Balkans is expected to become a matter of increasing importance in the eyes of governments, experts, think-tanks, and other civil society organisations.

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