TIRANA, March 8, 2023 – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this week that the rapid integration into the European Union of the six countries of the Western Balkans is of strategic importance for Germany and remains a very important task for the EU.
Mr. Scholz made the comments during a joint press conference in Berlin with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, after which the German head of government said Albania is making progress in the integration process.
The joint press conference also revealed that a summit of the Berlin Process will be held in Albania in the middle of next October, the first time the summit of the German-led EU initiative is held in the region.
“The rapid integration of the six countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union, I emphasize again, is of strategic importance for my government. We hope to welcome them as members of the European Union as soon as possible. I believe that Albania’s good progress in the EU membership talks is a very good signal for this,” Chancellor Scholz told reporters at the press conference.
He listed that, among other things, the essence of the European negotiations remains the strengthening of the rule of law, free and independent media, as well as a transparent economic environment with legal certainty.
– Kosovo-Serbia deal under the latest EU proposal would ‘make possible what seemed impossible’ –
Chancellor Scholz also answered questions about the recent developments in relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Mr. Scholz said that the Franco-German proposal addressed to the parties is well weighed and has full international support of the EU and the United States, so he believed that this process will soon end successfully.
“I believe that a lot of progress has been made, as can be seen in the public statements by Vucic and Kurti. This is progress compared to past times,” the German chancellor said. “This is a plan that can be implemented, and now it should work. That’s why I expect that we will have good and constructive results soon. I have the impression that there is a great will to make possible what seemed impossible for a long time. It would be good for peace and for the development of Kosovo and Serbia.”
-Albania to host Berlin Process Summit in October-
The next summit of heads of government in the Berlin Process will be held in Tirana on Oct. 16, 2023, the two leaders announced at the press conference.
This will be the first meeting in the nearly 10-year history of the initiative that will be held in the capital of a Western Balkan country.
“I am happy that Tirana was chosen for the Berlin Process Summit. This summit will continue on the opened path, deepening of the process, will deal with the balance of the achievements of this process, the objectives to be achieved further, as well as strengthen the cooperation in the region,” Mr. Rama told reporters at the press conference.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said that regional cooperation is the only way forward, while Germany is an attentive and directly involved partner.
Photo: Fastest possible integration into the EU is needed for the entire Western Balkans, Chancellor Scholz says after meeting with PM Rama. (PDP)
