Eurasia Press & News
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said that at the meeting and dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron, he reached “some concrete agreements”, including those on the purchase of Rafale fighter jets, and that he expects the signing of the contract in the next two months, with the presence President Macron.
I am very happy about the results of those talks, about all forms of cooperation, Vučić told journalists from Belgrade media.
Vučić said that he had a long discussion with Macron about Kosovo , and that he listened to him, and he thinks he understood.
“What I did, few people would do in this place.” Not because of courage, but because of political experience, and I don’t think about myself, but about the country I lead. I’m like an encyclopedia. There is no one in the world who knows all that about Kosovo. I am the only one who attended all the meetings for 12 years. “Six sets have changed in Pristina, as many as in Europe,” he pointed out.
As he explained, he took notes and studied them at all meetings, and many times he was recognized by international representatives, as well as by Macron, who was fair, because he knows when he was told what.
He has no time to think about the opposition
Vučić also said that he has too much work and no time to think about whether the opposition will participate in the Belgrade elections, stating that Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić is dealing with ODIHR’s recommendations on election conditions and everything else.
“I can’t deal with someone’s whims because of the fact that they can’t win an election.” “I want to dedicate all my strength to vital state issues,” said Vučić.
He assessed that Macron was fair at the meeting on Monday evening, he had questions about the formation of the Union of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo (ZSO), and we will see the moves of France in the following period.
When asked about Kosovo’s accession to the Council of Europe , Vučić replied that a few days ago, France reminded that the ZSO was an obligation to discuss Pristina’s membership in some organizations.
Vučić added that he also discussed with Macron the resolution on Srebrenica, the situation in the region, as well as in Ukraine.
He emphasized that he had to change the speech that was written for him before the meeting with Macron, because the situation in Kosovo is difficult.
Vucic noted that he and Macron spoke humanly during the conversation and dinner, because the French president “respects his openness and honesty.”
He added that he is “afraid” that the situation in Ukraine will enter “second gear” which will cause many problems in Europe and the world.
Vučić announced that it is expected that the Louis Vuitton company will open a store in “Belgrade on the water” in 2026 .
“Serbia is not able to manage large systems like the metro”
Vučić also emphasized that Serbia is not able to manage large systems, such as the subway in Belgrade, and that there is an opening for French companies.
In Paris, at the France-Serbia business council, he pointed out that Serbia also needs cooperation with companies for the construction of landfills, waste management and in other areas, with which large contracts are concluded for many years.
“We are also looking forward to future cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, and yesterday we started talking with the French Electric Power Company (EDF) about nuclear energy , about nuclear reactors, it is green energy, energy that will create a sustainable system for Serbia.” Otherwise, in 20 years we will not be able to supply enough electricity not only to our industry, but also to our population,” said Vučić.
He added that these are big investments, but that Serbia is ready to cooperate closely with France.
Vučić told the French businessmen that Serbia has good public finances and macroeconomic indicators.
At a meeting with representatives of the French business association Movement of French Entrepreneurs – MEDEF International, he said that Serbia has improved its rating at the Standard & Poor’s agency and that it is now only one step away from an investment rating, and that it would probably get it if it were a member of NATO or E U.
As he stated, the trade exchange between Serbia and France has increased in recent years, but that it is possible for it to be even greater.
According to Vučić, Serbia has implemented many reforms, primarily in state enterprises, but, as he added, there are many other things in other areas, including the rule of law, that need to be improved.
“In Serbia, 11,125 people work in 339 French companies operating in our country,” said Vučić.
Expo as an “umbrella”
He reminded that Serbia will host the specialized international exhibition Expo in 2027.
“We use that exhibition as an umbrella to build the entire country, to build new highways.” Serbia is building a high-speed railway and little Serbia is the country with the largest number of kilometers under construction of a high-speed railway in the whole of Europe. It shows how committed we are to achieving the best results by 2027 and there is a huge space for many French companies to participate in it,” said Vučić.
