Wadephul: Let's complete the EU so that it is a true European Union

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said today that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union and that the message is clear – if there is the desire and willingness to meet the criteria, it is possible to succeed on that path, and that the common goal is to “complete the EU and make it a true European Union”.

At the beginning of the ministerial meeting within the Berlin Process in Przno, Wadephul said that the Berlin Process itself confirms the path the region wants to follow, namely a future for the Western Balkans in the Union.

“All Western Balkan countries can become members. Our message is clear: if you have the desire and are ready to meet the criteria, you can succeed on the path toward EU membership in the coming years. The Berlin Process is intended to accelerate your path toward European integration, but to move closer to the EU, countries need to implement reforms. Political and all other obstacles must be overcome,” Wadephul said.

He noted that Montenegro is a good place to discuss the region's European path because, 20 years after gaining independence, the country is still knocking on the EU's door.

“Believe me, your knocking is being heard in Brussels and in all the capitals of the Union,” Wadephul said.

He recalled that the EU-Western Balkans summit was held in Tivat at the beginning of June, and that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their commitment to the region's European future and submitted a “non-paper” intended to make use of the new momentum in the enlargement process.

“The non-paper of the two countries seeks to inject new momentum into the enlargement process by providing additional initiatives, while emphasizing that the integration process is merit-based,” Wadephul explained.

He said that today's meeting would address issues such as economic convergence and regional integration, as well as how to create opportunities to reduce barriers between the EU and the Western Balkans, but also how important good-neighborly relations and confronting the past are for reconciliation.

Wadephul thanked Montenegro for adding the question of how to ensure that future generations see their future in a European Western Balkans.

“Our answer is clear – the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU. As we also reiterated in the German-French non-paper, our common goal is to complete the EU and make it a true European Union,” Wadephul stressed.