Solz: The EU is complete only with the Western Balkans as its part

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today that the European Union is complete only with the Western Balkans as its part, and that the countries of that region should take further steps towards a common future.

At the opening of the Berlin Process summit held in Berlin, he said that we all know how much the region of the Western Balkans is still shaped by the conflicts of the past, and that it is time to overcome them and turn to the future.

– That’s why I want to tell our friends from Belgrade and Pristina, don’t let the past turn you back from the path to a peaceful and prosperous future. I am still convinced that that future lies in the EU, and that there is only one way to get there – the full implementation of the agreements you have already reached. We are committed to solving bilateral issues in a spirit of cooperation and peaceful means. This is what the Berlin Process stands for – said Scholz.

At the same time, he praised the unblocking of the Cefta free trade agreement because, he said, it enables the activation of several other agreements, such as agreements on work permits and e-commerce routes.

– The unblocking of the Cefta agreement is not the only decision we are making today. We will also sign two documents that will make everyday life easier for people, the first, a new action plan for a common regional market, a fundamental document for further deepening of economic integration. Covering both social and work aspects of cooperation and mobility, this will make cross-border work less complicated and bring you significantly closer to the EU standard – said Soltz.

He pointed out that the ministers of foreign affairs, economy, agriculture and environmental protection of the EU member states together with their colleagues from the Western Balkan countries and representatives of civil society, scientists, members of parliament are working on issues that are important for citizens in all our countries, from border control and migration management to green transformation, economic cooperation and gender equality, in order to speed up the EU integration of all Western Balkan countries.

– We work together to find a compromise for the benefit of all. Thank you for your input on this. The Berlin process is a success story. Let’s add new chapters to this story until the European future for your citizens and your countries becomes a reality – he concluded.