Germany’s Merz says EU to initiate integration of Western Balkans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the European Union plans to begin a gradual integration process for six Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the bloc. This initiative was discussed at a summit in Montenegro, which hosted EU leaders and their Western Balkan counterparts. Montenegro, along with Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia, are seeking EU membership. The article states that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has renewed the EU's interest in enlargement, with Ukraine and Moldova also pursuing accession. European leaders, including Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasized the desire for these Western Balkan states to become EU members soon, pushing for a faster and more credible enlargement process.

EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz, and Emmanuel Macron, met with counterparts from six Western Balkan countries in Tivat, Montenegro, to discuss accelerating the EU enlargement process. They emphasized the need for the EU to demonstrate its capability and willingness to accept new members, noting that 13 years without new additions indicates shortcomings. The war in Ukraine has heightened the urgency for enlargement, with countries like Ukraine and Moldova also seeking accession. France and Germany proposed "gradual integration" as a potential interim step, allowing candidate countries to participate in certain EU formats. This summit aimed to address how the EU can improve the lives of people in the region and make the enlargement process faster and more credible.

European leaders are gathering in Tivat, Montenegro, for a summit to reaffirm the membership prospects of six Western Balkan countries. The meeting, attended by over 30 leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, aims to deepen the integration of these nations into the EU single market. This initiative is framed as a geostrategic interest for Europe, promoting peace and stability, especially as Russia and China seek influence in the region. While Montenegro is the most advanced in its accession quest, other countries like Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia face varying degrees of progress and political challenges. The summit follows Hungary's decision to drop its veto on Ukraine's EU talks, highlighting a renewed focus on enlargement, though internal EU divisions on the pace and method of enlargement persist.