The Berlin Process, he said, has stood for cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans for over 10 years. “This has never been more important than in the times we are living in”, said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a press statement at the Berlin Process Summit on the Western Balkans in London.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the six Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia – as an integral part of the European family. They are, he said, geographically surrounded by EU Member States and also have very good relationships with Germany. “We want to improve these relationships”, said the Chancellor.

The most important points in brief:

• Implement reforms: each of the Western Balkans, according to the Federal Chancellor, is in control of how long the path to the European Union supported by the Berlin Process takes. “Reforms in these countries are the key to this”, emphasised Merz. The EU, he said, could not and would not accept a compromise, nor would this be in the interests of the future of the candidate countries.
• Regulate immigration: this, according to the Federal Chancellor, would also be needed in the future – in Germany as in all EU countries. “We also need it, especially for our labour markets”, emphasised the Chancellor. However, the European Council in Brussels would discuss the common European immigration and asylum policy with a view to the challenges in this regard.
• Build bridges: Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Serbia and Kosovo to intensify dialogue to normalise their relations and assured them of his support. “It is time for the two countries to fully implement the commitments they have made”, emphasised the Chancellor. Merz was pleased that all parties had adopted a joint declaration on reconciliation and good neighbourly relations in the run-up to the summit, which he said needed to be realised every day from then on.

Read the transcript of the statement here (in German only):