Skopje, 20 May 2025 (MIA) - Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade members met Friday with French Ambassador Christophe Le Rigoleur. 

Chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee Musa Xhaferi welcomed the committee's first meeting with Ambassador Le Rigoleur, highlighting France's contribution since the country's independence. 

Talks focused on the bilateral issue with Bulgaria, i.e. constitutional amendments, as a requirement for opening European Union accession negotiations. In that regard, mediation of France was requested to facilitate communication and finally unblocking the Skopje - Sofia dialogue. According to Xhaferi, the only solution for the country is EU integration, and there is no other alternative because the country belongs to Europe and is a NATO member, the Parliament said in a press release. 

The French Ambassador stressed that the enlargement is a complicated topic, but there is an open window and the Western Balkans should seize the moment.

"The European integration process is long, involves different stages. Therefore, there can be no absolute guarantees, and in the end it must be ratified by all EU member states. The best guarantee is that the two countries can reach an agreement with the help of other states or institutions. France, like other member states, is willing to help and provide its political engagement to facilitate negotiations. However, there must be a political agreement to unblock dialogue, and this requires good will and a small political risk on both sides," the French Ambassador noted. 

In this regard, he called for restoring trust through mutual meetings and discussions. In the meantime, Le Rigoleur stressed, the country must continue implementing the reform agenda.

Committee members Ivanka Vasilevska and Rexhep Ismail, as well as deputy member and Parliament Vice -Speaker Vesna Bendevska also took part in the discussion. 

At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador expressed awareness of the Euroscepticism as a result of the long wait at the EU's doorstep, but emphasized that the enormous benefits of membership in the European family should be considered. He sees the country as an example in the region and Europe of a multiethnic democracy, and as such it should be involved in the unification of the European family with the Western Balkans.

Photo: Parliament