Vadeful calls for the EU to accelerate enlargement to the Western Balkans

German Foreign Minister Johan Vadeful has advocated for a faster process of European Union enlargement to the countries of the Western Balkans due to the challenges posed in that region by the ambitions of Russia and China.

“EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is a key test for Europe. It will be decisive for what kind of influence the EU will have in the coming decades,” Vadeful told reporters in Berlin ahead of his departure for Podgorica, for a conference on the Western Balkans being held today in Budva, according to the dpa agency.

Vadeful emphasized that EU enlargement is crucial for both the security of Europe and its future. According to him, only if the EU provides the Western Balkan states with a credible membership perspective and binds them more closely to itself, will it secure for itself and tralni geopolitical maneuvering space.

In confronting geopolitical rivals, the key interests at stake for Europe are security, influence, and the ability to act, Vadeful said, adding that Russia and China have long sought to strengthen their influence in the Western Balkans.

“That is why we now need to accelerate the enlargement process,” Vadeful said.

EU countries must fulfill the promises they have made to candidate countries, and a country that makes progress with reforms must also advance in the accession process, Vadeful said.

He recalled that these reforms include the rule of law, the fight against organized crime and corruption, and regional cooperation.

Today in Budva, Vadeful is participating with colleagues from several countries at a conference on the Western Balkans, which is being held as part of the Berlin Process. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos will also participate in the meeting.

The dpa agency writes that all six Western Balkan states aspire to EU membership, but are at different stages in the process of European integration, with the European Commission estimating that Montenegro could be the first to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU, possibly by the end of this year if it maintains its current pace of reforms.