Merz at Berlin Process summit: We are encouraging Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today, opening the summit of leaders held as part of the Berlin Process in Montenegro, that Berlin is committed to the Western Balkans, adding that it is encouraging dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

“When we established the Berlin Process, we rejected the use of hate speech and the glorification of war criminals. If we want a better future for our children, we must not add fuel to the fire, but instead normalize dialogue. We are also urgently calling on Belgrade and Pristina to act responsibly and make progress through dialogue,” Merz said.

He noted that the Western Balkans is a region undergoing change, which must come from within the countries themselves, one of the Berlin Process's fundamental principles.

“The idea is to bring the Western Balkans to the table, enable it to make progress through domestic reforms, and promote regional cooperation alongside reconciliation,” Merz said.

He added that over the 12 years of the Berlin Process, progress had been made in labor mobility, tourism and the green agenda. These may sound overly technical, he said, but they are not, as taken together they provide “the best training ground for the single market.”

Noting that Montenegro had nearly completed its EU accession negotiations, Merz said joint efforts were now needed to ensure that merit-based enlargement could become a reality.

“Emmanuel Macron and I have jointly put forward concrete proposals for enlargement, and the European Commission has accepted much of them, thanks to Marta Kos, who has done a great deal. Gradual accession is merit-based, and it is important that reforms and political will must come from your side,” Merz said.

Referring to protests in the region and in European countries, he said they sent a clear message that enlargement must continue and that citizens must be able to benefit from it.

“When faced with protests, violence must never be an option on either side. It is also very difficult when we allow the past to hold us back. Rhetoric that divides us and polarization will not lead to a safer, freer and more successful Europe. History will not look kindly on those who work to divide us in these complex times,” Merz said.

He emphasized that Germany was committed to the Western Balkans, a position grounded in the belief that a stable, peaceful and economically vibrant region is essential to the EU.

“You can count on our support for your countries,” Merz stressed.

Spajic: We can write the next European chapter together

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic stressed that Montenegro had approached its presidency of the Berlin Process in good faith, placing shared interests above narrow national priorities in order to promote cooperation, strengthen unity and reaffirm European values as the foundation of a lasting partnership.

“In Montenegro, we believe that our neighbors' success expands our own opportunities. Through a common regional market and closer integration with the EU, we must turn that belief into everyday opportunities, so that goods can cross borders faster and businesses can reach new consumers,” Spajic said.

He noted that achieving this required economic reforms, strong institutions, fair competition and investment.

“Convergence means bringing European standards across borders. This is the foundation of stability and European security,” Spajic stressed.

He also said that this security was being defended in Ukraine, adding that Montenegro stood firmly with the country and supported its people, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We support a just and lasting peace, which means that borders cannot be changed by force and that every nation has the right to choose its own future,” Spajic emphasized.

He also noted that Europe must bring “the same clarity of purpose to the enlargement process.”

“Enlargement is the reunification of our continent,” Spajic added, noting that the EU's strength lies in its quality of life, democracy, the rule of law and solidarity.

“We can write the next European chapter together,” Spajic said at the opening of the summit.