“Europe has an absolute geo-strategic interest in including these countries in the EU,” said the CDU politician on Monday evening during a visit to the Serbian capital Belgrade. Merkel had previously met with President Aleksandar Vucic.
The six Western Balkan states of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo are striving for EU membership, but will have to undergo many reforms before then. The road is a long one, Merkel and Vucic admitted at a joint press conference. The Chancellor also met representatives of civil society from the Western Balkans in Belgrade, according to a German government spokesman.
As part of her two-day visit to the region, Merkel will fly to Tirana on Tuesday. There she meets the heads of government of the six Western Balkan states. She is convinced that the region has a high priority in European politics, she said in Belgrade. Vucic praised the Chancellor, who will be leaving politics in a few weeks. “We always found an open ear with her,” he explained.