German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on European Union member states to deliver on their promises regarding enlargement in the Western Balkans.
Wadephul warned that the EU risks losing credibility and influence in the region if it fails to accelerate the enlargement process.
“The EU enlargement process is at a turning point,” Wadephul told reporters after a meeting held as part of the Berlin Process, where EU and Western Balkan countries discuss economic integration, infrastructure and regional reconciliation.
Wadephul recalled that at the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, the EU promised the Western Balkan countries a path toward membership in the bloc. He also pointed to Germany’s efforts in advancing the process, noting that former Chancellor Angela Merkel launched the Berlin Process in 2014 with the aim of accelerating regional integration. Yet, more than a decade later, he said, concrete progress remains limited.
“We have not delivered what we promised,” Wadephul said. “I would urge everyone to show them that the Thessaloniki promise was real, that we are credible and that Europe can be a partner you can rely on.”
The German foreign minister also pointed to geopolitical competitors seeking influence in the region, in a reference to Russia and China.
Montenegro is currently the Western Balkan country that has advanced furthest in the EU accession process and has set a target of becoming the bloc’s 28th member in 2028.
