Bilateral Forums France – Western Balkans: An initiative for the strategic reengagement of France in the Western Balkans

The objective of the initiative is to use track-two diplomacy deliberations to explore how to intensify economic, political and societal cooperation between France and the Western Balkans. The project will contribute to the reflection about the implementation of the French Strategy on the Western Balkans through recommendations from the region.

EPI will organise one of the three online regional events and publish a policy paper on political cooperation between France and the Western Balkans. The focus of the discussions on politician cooperation will focus but not limit to the promotion of good neighbourly relations, addressing migration challenges, and countering terrorism. The recommendation on political, economic and societal cooperation will be presented in France, ahead of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The project is carried out in partnership with Eurocréative, Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe (ÖFZ), Fondation Jean Jaurès, Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI), Center for European Policy (CEP) as partners from the region. The initiative will be carried out throughout 2021.