German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Slovenia, advocated for quickening the EU accession for the Western Balkans, underlining the importance of reform-driven progress over geopolitical decisions.
Highlighting the slow journey since the EU’s Thessaloniki summit pledge, Scholz, with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, emphasized resolving regional disputes, especially noting the Serbia-Kosovo and North Macedonia situations, and the initiation of talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Scholz’s commitment to the Berlin Process, initiated by Angela Merkel, reflects a stronger European resolve to integrate the Western Balkans into the EU, moving from geopolitical to reform-centric strategies. This stance, coupled with Golob’s acknowledgment of Scholz’s role in promoting Western Balkan EU membership at the European Council, underlines a strategic European shift towards tangible reforms in the region’s path to EU integration.