DW:Germany supports the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU through the Berlin Process. But in recent years no real progress has been made in this regard. What suggestions do you have for the new government in order for this approach to really happen?

Berger: “The Berlin Process, initiated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014, to promote regional cooperation should be seen as a supporter of the EU enlargement process. The pace of the region’s EU integration is really unsatisfactory. Last year, the European Union modified the enlargement procedure in order to give more dynamism to the enlargement process, but also to the necessary reforms. The EU also provides financial support to the countries of the Western Balkans. In response to the difficult situation created by the pandemic in April 2020, the region received an emergency aid package, amounting to 3.3 billion euros. In October 2020, the European Commission presented the Economic and Investment Plan estimated at up to 9 billion euros, to help medium-term economic recovery of the Western Balkans. EU continues to be committed and offer various incentives to promote the reform processes in the Western Balkans, as well as the integration of countries into the EU.

The Federal Government sees the future of the Western Balkans in the EU. The interim solutions that are being proposed are not real alternatives and are not required by either the governments or the citizens of the region. At the same time, we see the region as a great potential, through further expansion of regional cooperation. Progress in this area, such as the development of the Common Regional Market by 2024 in particular, supports the path of the six Western Balkan countries to the EU.

We want sustainable strengthening of cooperation between the six countries of the Western Balkans. We are following this approach in the Berlin Process. In the Regional Cooperation Council, for example, much progress has been made in the G6, even with the support of the EU. In principle, any regional cooperation in the Western Balkans is to be welcomed. But on the other hand, it is important that regional co-operation be comprehensive and open to all six Western Balkan countries. By this I mean both the development of new ideas and initiatives, as well as their implementation. This is an approach to which the participants in the “Berlin Process” are all committed which is also promoted by the EU.”

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