The German Chancellor considers the integration of the Western Balkan states into the European Union absolutely necessary. However, this is unlikely to happen quickly, Angela Merkel admitted in Belgrade
“Europe has an absolute geostrategic interest in accepting the (Western Balkan) countries into the EU”, – Merkel said at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Monday evening.
At the same time, she urged EU partners to be more accommodating. “Influences from many parts of the world are affecting the six Western Balkan states – and if the EU does not move fast enough, other partners will have to come to terms with it,” the German prime minister warned.
At the moment Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia have candidate status for EU accession, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are “potential” candidates. Formal accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia should have started long ago. Merkel has repeatedly expressed regret that this has not happened so far because of resistance from other EU countries.
The chancellor praised the reforms of Serbia and other Balkan countries, but called for further efforts. “To open further chapters in the enlargement process, it is very important that progress is made here, especially in the area of the legal system,” Merkel stressed. She wanted to encourage “further steps towards the rule of law, democracy and pluralism of civil society”. The road to EU membership is certainly a long one, Merkel said.
As part of her two-day visit to the Balkans, the chancellor will travel to the Albanian capital Tirana on Tuesday. There she will meet the heads of government of all the Western Balkan states.