German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the European Union must expand if it wants to strengthen its sovereignty and be recognised as a global power, stressing that the Western Balkans and Europe are growing increasingly closer.
In a post on the social media platform X, Merz said Montenegro was on the right path toward EU membership and expressed confidence that other countries in the region should and would follow its example.
“The EU must expand if it wants to assert its sovereignty and be perceived as a global power. The Western Balkans and Europe are growing increasingly closer to each other,” Merz wrote.
“Montenegro is on the right path to joining the EU; the others should and will follow its example,” he added.
Merz’s remarks underscore Germany’s emphasis on EU enlargement and Montenegro’s progress toward membership, while highlighting the broader prospect of integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union.
