French President Emmanuel Macron has paid an official visit to Serbia. The visit came after he told Balkan countries seeking EU membership that they would have to wait until EU reforms were implemented. Our Aljosa Milenkovic has more from Belgrade.

Last-minute preparations for the French president's state visit to Serbia. The red carpets are swept, the orchestra and military guards are taking their position as Emmanuel Macron's plane touches down at Belgrade airport. The same one which a French company was recently given a 25-year concession to run. But many opposition figures in Serbia are skeptical about Macron's visit, saying he's not here to advance Serbia's dream of joining the EU, but to make lucrative business deals for French companies.

DJORDJE VUKADINOVIC INDEPENDENT MP "It is absolutely clear that he is coming here as a traveling salesman for the metro and not to deal with EU integration. Of course the media will emphasize Euro-integration and the friendship between the two countries, but in fact, it's vice versa."

France is eying a multi-billion-dollar deal for the construction of the capital's underground metro system. It's widely considered that it's a front-runner in that race. During Macron's visit, it's been confirmed that Serbia has bought anti-aircraft small missile systems from France, and it doesn't want to stop there either, eyeing more French weapons. But, at the end, the issues of Kosovo's independence and Serbia's accession to the EU, were unavoidable for both leaders. Macron said the bloc needs serious reform before it can open its doors to new members, and any talk of enlargement is pointless until progress is made in this area.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "There is no date given and we shouldn't limit ourselves to such a timetable. If we set a date and get stuck with an agenda, we'll end up saying 'it's a success or it's a failure'. We would find ourselves collectively in a situation where all the reforms that were planned are not put in place but we forget about those that were and say 'you failed to meet the deadline'."

Serbia's president addressed 2025 as the year mentioned by various EU officials over the years as when Serbia and other Western Balkan nations could formally become EU members.

ALEKSANDAR VUCIC SERBIAN PRESIDENT "Regarding what people told us about EU membership in 2025. Well, they told us in 1999 that they were bombarding us because of the 'humanitarian catastrophe', only to appear that they had ulterior motives. In 2003, they told us that Kosovo needed to achieve certain standards before it was given the status. They lied to us and gave them status in 2008 without those standards."

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC BELGRADE "Serbia's bid for EU membership dates back nearly twenty years, and there's still no sign of it being approved. According to opinion polls, the people seem to be tired of the process, with a dramatic drop in public support for accession since 1999. Through Macron's visit, both sides are hoping they can arrest the downward trend and keep the dream alive. Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN; Belgrade."