The Western Balkans

Foreign ministers call for accelerated EU integration

From left: Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg

(Bild: APA/BMEIA/Michael Gruber)

Several foreign ministers spoke out in favor of a gradual and accelerated EU integration of the Western Balkans on Monday. "The question of EU enlargement is a question of security for the European and Austrian population", said Austria's interim chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP).

"Either we export stability and security or we run the risk of importing instability." Schallenberg launched the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group in June 2023. Its members are the foreign ministers of Italy, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia. They met in Rome on Monday.

Among other things, they discussed gradual integration, which should enable inclusion in certain policy areas. "This is about creating concrete and tangible benefits for the people in the region and enabling a realistic and credible accession perspective," said Schallenberg. "The EU is not complete without the Western Balkans".

This is about creating concrete and tangible benefits for the people in the region and enabling a realistic and credible accession perspective.

Kanzler Alexander Schallenberg

"Not always smooth"
"The process of European integration has not always been smooth, but today more than ever it must be pursued with courage, tenacity and wisdom, both within the Union and at its borders, also to encourage the accession of new members, such as the countries of the Western Balkans, but also Ukraine and Moldova," said Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

According to the group, all Western Balkan countries should join the European Union by 2030, in particular Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia. It could take longer for Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was objected.