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The aim is EU accession: Foreign Minister Wadephul travels to the Western Balkans
Foreign Minister Wadephul and his Albanian counterpart Elisa Spiropali © Photothek Media Lab
From 16 to 19 November, Foreign Minister Wadephul will visit the six Balkan states – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. All six countries are currently engaged in the EU accession process. Through his trip, Foreign Minister Wadephul is sending a strong message of support for this process, as well as emphasising the strategic importance of the region for Europe. The visit will pick up where Foreign Ministers left off after their Berlin Process meeting in Belfast in September. It underscores that the Western Balkans are a high geopolitical priority, for both Germany and the EU.
Prior to departing for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first stop on his trip that will last several days, Foreign Minister Wadephul made the following statement:
The six countries of the Western Balkans are an integral part of the European family. Germany is supporting them in pursuing their path towards the EU actively and ambitiously. For the first time in a longer period, there is a realistic chance that the accession process will take a crucial step forward. People in the region have justifiably high expectations that intensive efforts on this path will pay off, as entailed in the performance-based process.
An EU perspective for the Western Balkans – a geopolitically significant region
In a tense geopolitical climate that is marked by the brutal war in Ukraine and the growing influence of authoritarian countries like Russia and China, EU enlargement is strategically significant – for candidate countries, as well as for us.
Particularly in times of geopolitical upheaval, only a strong and united Europe can guarantee our continent’s prosperity, security and freedom over the long term. I will discuss these matters with my interlocutors in the six countries of the Western Balkans and make clear that Europe is not a distant promise, but a concrete prospect for them.
– Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
To advance the accession process, reforms in the region are indispensable, especially with regard to fighting corruption and organised crime, as well as protecting fundamental democratic values such as the rule of law.
In order to have a future in the EU, many people are prepared to carry out far-reaching reforms, as those who wish to become part of this community of rights and economic area must take on responsibility – even if this necessitates taking difficult steps. The rule of law, the fight against corruption and the preservation of fundamental rights are non-negotiable here. Our fellow NATO Allies Montenegro and Albania in particular have made significant progress recently, while other countries still have a lot to do in some areas.
– Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, prior to departure
Support for the reform process and energy independence
In addition to focussing on steps toward political and economic reform, another key topic of the trip is the region’s energy independence. Some countries of the Western Balkans remain highly reliant on Russia for energy imports. To enable more independence and sovereignty in the long term, the transformation process must be advanced – not only politically, but also economically and in the domain of energy.
For the countries of the Western Balkans, it is crucial to have a wider range of energy sources in order to strengthen their independence and sovereignty in the long term. We in Germany know how painful and, at the same time, how necessary this can be.
– Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
Actively countering anti-European disinformation
Foreign Minister Wadephul’s trip to the countries of the Western Balkans sends a strong political signal, namely that Germany is a reliable partner along the path to EU membership. At the same time, Wadephul is emphasising how important it is that the countries in the region decisively advance reforms and clearly show they are aligned with the values and policies of the EU.
Reform steps and a clear commitment to shared values are the prerequisite for EU accession. At the same time, they form the basis for stable, democratic states that protect minorities, smooth the path for economic growth, and do not allow themselves to be thrown off the course they have chosen despite all the attempts at disinformation and manipulation by authoritarian states such as Russia.
– Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
On the agenda during the trip: talks with key actors
During his trip, Foreign Minister Wadephul will hold many talks with his counterparts in the region, as well as with other important political and civil society actors. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign Minister Wadephul will also meet with Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, to discuss the challenges the country faces and the progress it has made. In Serbia and Albania, Wadephul will hold meetings with members of civil society and representatives of the judiciary, among others.
Another important item on his agenda will be his visit with KFOR troops in Kosovo, who are there to maintain stability in the region. During this stop, Wadephul will speak with soldiers stationed there and gain a first-hand impression of the current security situation.