Key facts
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized the EU's slow progress on enlargement to the Western Balkans.
- Wadephul stated, 'We have not delivered' on promises made to the region.
- He warned that geopolitical rivals are competing for influence in the Western Balkans.
- Montenegro has closed 18 of 33 EU accession chapters, with more expected soon.
- Montenegro's Foreign Affairs Minister Ervin Ibrahimović believes his country deserves EU admission now.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed strong criticism on Thursday regarding the European Union's slow progress in its enlargement process for the Western Balkans. Speaking in Budva, Montenegro, following a meeting related to the Berlin Process, Wadephul warned that the EU's credibility and influence in the region are at risk if it fails to deliver on its promises.
Wadephul recalled the 2003 Thessaloniki summit where the EU declared that the Western Balkans belonged within the bloc. He noted that the Berlin Process, initiated by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014 to accelerate integration, has still not achieved success after 12 years. "We have not delivered," Wadephul stated, urging all EU members to demonstrate that the Thessaloniki promise was genuine and that Europe is reliable.
The German minister also pointed to "geopolitical adversaries and rivals," implicitly referencing Russia and China, who are actively seeking to increase their influence in the Western Balkans. This comes as Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić and his predecessor Milorad Dodik visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow ahead of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Austria's foreign minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that "the clock is ticking" and the EU cannot afford to remain bogged down in bureaucratic processes. She warned that any perceived weakness would be quickly exploited by other foreign powers.
Montenegro is a key country in the EU enlargement efforts, aiming to join the bloc as its 28th member. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has commended Montenegro's reform efforts, noting that 18 out of 33 accession chapters have been closed, with more anticipated this month. Kos suggested that Montenegro could conclude negotiations by the end of the year or early next year, though final ratification would take additional time.
Montenegro's Foreign Affairs Minister Ervin Ibrahimović stated that his government has implemented numerous reforms and that his citizens should now benefit from EU membership, adding, "To be honest, we deserve to be admitted now."