Information
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed hope for the integration of six Western Balkan nations—Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Albania—into the European Union during the Berlin Process summit. He emphasized that these nations’ membership is essential for a “complete” EU and suggested the timeline for this process should ideally not extend beyond the next decade. Alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Scholz announced agreements on a common market and increased mobility in higher education within the region. He highlighted the importance of the Berlin Process, an annual summit held since 2014, in fostering regional cooperation and unity among these states, describing the initiative as the “spirit of Berlin.”
Von der Leyen acknowledged a renewed EU focus on enlargement, contrasting it with previous years when expansion was considered unlikely. She also cautioned against growing Russian influence in the Western Balkans, referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a moment of clarity on choosing alliances that align with international law. Recent German-led mediation efforts have resolved a longstanding dispute over free trade among Balkan countries, which Scholz hailed as a “breakthrough” for regional collaboration. However, he acknowledged that historical tensions, particularly between Serbia and Kosovo, continue to challenge cooperative efforts.
Source: dpa, AFP
So what
While some of these countries will likely join the EU in the foreseeable future, there are some significant hurdles that still need to be crossed. However, it seems unlikely that Serbia will be one of these countries due to its current political climate and alignment with Russia. Also, Kosovo will likely struggle due to the disputes with Serbia, which would likely increase significantly if they were to proceed towards EU membership.
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