France says too early to hold talks with Balkans on EU membership

• France wanted to send a "positive" signal to those Balkan countries on their long-term prospects for joining the bloc

PARIS: France considers it is too early to open talks with Balkan countries on accession to the European Union, a French presidency official said on Tuesday.

France wanted to send a "positive" signal to those Balkan countries on their long-term prospects for joining the bloc, the official also said.

France stuck to its hardline position against European Union membership talks for North Macedonia and Albania on Tuesday, warning it could not approve negotiations until the EU reformed the "endless soap opera" of admitting new members.