Eurasia Press & News
New research demonstrates that it makes no political sense whatsoever for France to block candidate countries in the Western Balkans on their path to EU membership.
In 2004, after the “big bang” enlargement, and when many in the EU opposed rapid accession for Romania and Bulgaria, France was their champion. The power of France prevented further delays.
Today, Paris is leading the pack of enlargement sceptics. Before Bulgaria vetoed the opening of the first negotiating chapters with North Macedonia in December last year, France was applying the brakes on the EU membership path of Albania and North Macedonia.
Past polling shows France is among the European countries that most disapprove of EU enlargement.
