Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls for unity at a summit with regional leaders in Berlin.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told the leaders of six Balkan countries aspiring to join the European Union that “it is high time to overcome regional conflicts” and stand united as Russia wages war in Ukraine.
Scholz and the EU’s top officials – Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel – joined the leaders of Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania on Thursday for the summit of Western Balkans to Berlin.
Addressing the meeting, he said the six countries “belong to the free and democratic part of Europe” and stressed the need to realize their long-standing desire to join the EU, which he described as being in the “interests” of the bloc.
“The stability and prosperity of your region cannot be separated from the stability and prosperity of Europe as a whole,” Scholz said.
At the summit, the parties are expected to sign agreements aimed at facilitating regional travel arrangements and mutual recognition of academic qualifications. They are also expected to discuss energy issues.
But as tensions rise again between Serbia and Kosovo this week, Scholz said the nations themselves must overcome the problems that have slowed their path to the EU and highlighted “a sense of urgency”.
“European way”
“Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine forces us to unite to preserve the freedom and security of Europe,” Scholz said. “It is high time to overcome regional conflicts that have lasted far too long – conflicts that divide you and hold your countries back on the European path. »
“The normalization process between Serbia and Kosovo in particular needs to accelerate, so let’s do it,” he added. Serbia does not recognize its former province’s 2008 declaration of independence.
Alongside regional reconciliation and cooperation, “the challenges of irregular migration, corruption and organized crime are crucial issues for all of us,” Scholz said, adding that the Balkan countries’ commitment to aligning visa policies on those of the EU is “essential in this area”. context”.
Germany and others have pushed Serbia in particular to tighten its entry policies as growing numbers of migrants and refugees have tried to reach wealthier Western European countries via the Balkans in recent years. month.