Skopje, 15 February 2022 (MIA) - France’s position has been clear, it’s not new and is shared by all European institutions – unwavering support for opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible, stated French Ambassador Cyrille Baumgartner. He added that France is prepared and willing to support the opening of negotiations if Skopje and Sofia make headway in their bilateral talks paving the way for the start of negotiations. “It would also be an honor,” the French Ambassador stressed, adding he supported the bilateral talks. Ambassador Baumgartner said he was encouraged by the talks being reactivated after a new approach between Skopje and Sofia has been introduced There is indeed a new approach in the talks, which was desired by the two sides, he told reporters. “For France, the current holder of the EU presidency, it is very important to be informed on all matters on regular basis, which is already happening. The two capitals are in constant dialogue, especially during high-level meetings on both sides. There is also perfect coordination between us, the Europeans, and the European institutions,” said the French diplomat. Asked whether France would take concrete initiative in the next couple of months involving the issue, Ambassador Baumgartner said France is not in charge of defining the agenda. It is the two countries that define the agenda, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, he stated. According to Baumgartner, it depends on developments, especially the developments taking place as part of the working groups. “The French EU presidency together with the European institutions is prepared, when the moment comes, to take concrete steps to enable the happy ending everyone is desiring,” Ambassador Baumgartner told reporters after a conference on sports diplomacy, organized by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. In early February, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani visited Paris to present the Macedonian EU integration dossier. During their meetings, France’s clear support for the opening of EU negotiations soon was expressed. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaking at the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in January expressed hope that it is possible the EU to hold the first intergovernmental conferences with North Macedonia and Albania by the end of his country’s EU presidency, which lasts six months.