The Serbian President is on a two-day working visit to France, where he will discuss the acquisition of 12 Rafale fighter jets and the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Balkan nation, as well as relations with Kosovo.
Ahead of his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the evening of April 8, Vucic said the supply of the jets would give significant "new strength" to the Serbian armed forces.
Construction of a nuclear power plant in Serbia by France
Earlier that day, Vucic met in Paris with representatives of the French energy company Electricite de France (EDF). The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for possible cooperation in the fields of energy transition and low-carbon technology.
Vucic said that the development of hydropower and nuclear energy in Serbia will enhance its energy security while helping it achieve its carbon emission targets.
He said nuclear power will help meet the growing demand for electricity and that he hopes Serbia will have nuclear power by 2035, noting that it takes a few years to conduct a feasibility study and about seven years to build a plant.
After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, Serbia banned the development of nuclear energy. Vucic told a conference in Brussels last month that he would seek to change the law.
France is a world leader in civilian nuclear development. Nuclear power plants account for more than 60% of electricity generation.
"Kosovo is a thorn in Serbia's side for EU membership
Separately, the two leaders discussed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. As it is known, Belgrade and Pristina signed an agreement in February 2023 on the normalization of relations with the steps to be taken by each side.
French President Emmanuel Macron said during the press conference after the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that "the issue of Kosovo is a promise and a commitment for the future of the region" and that all this is included in the agreement reached last year. .
"France will ensure that every step of the agreement is fulfilled," Macron said. He also stressed the importance of arresting all those involved in the Banisca attack.
"I also want Pristina to respect its commitments, as well as to respect elections with full democratic legitimacy, especially in Serb-majority municipalities," Macron said.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in a joint speech in Paris that the statement that Pristina and Belgrade have "done something" in the dialogue on the normalization of relations is not true, since "one side has done nothing", referring to Kosovo.
Speaking about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, he claimed that Serbia has fulfilled "three things" regarding the agreement on the road to normalisation - reached last year - and a precondition was the establishment of the Union of Municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo , which Kosovo has not fulfilled.
"Kosovo is carrying out illegal acts in the north, and there is no investigation into the injury of Serbs in Kosovo," Vucic said.
Acquisition of 12 French RAFALE fighters in focus
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also met in Paris with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornoux, with whom they were scheduled to discuss the defence industry and defence, with the purchase of 12 Rafale fighter jets being at the centre of attention.
After the meeting, Vucic said he was proud of the fact that he had the opportunity to discuss all important issues with Macron, adding that he pointed out to him the incomparably better economic relations between Serbia and France.
"I am proud that tonight at the Elysee Palace I had the opportunity to discuss all important issues with President Emmanuel Macron, from geopolitical to bilateral and the most strategic issues for Serbia and our people," Vucic wrote on his Instagram account "buducnostsrbijeav".
The role of Greece
Greece should premium the strengthening of relations between the two allies of France-Serbia.
Any purchase of twelve (12) French RAFALE fighters by Serbia will mark its shift to the European defence industry and its move away from its Russian counterpart.
This development will have a positive impact on Belgrade's EU accession efforts.
Finally, our view is that we should consider jointly with France the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in our country, along the lines of Serbia.
