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Berlin Process Summit: Leaders urge Western Balkan EU integration
At the Berlin Process Summit held in Montenegro, European leaders emphasized that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is a geopolitical imperative. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the region must not become an arena for great power competition and called for courageous reforms, particularly regarding the rule of law, as a prerequisite for membership and investment.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker added that bilateral disputes should not block the EU expansion process. Montenegro, the summit host, aims to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2026 and become the 28th EU member by 2028. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos noted that while Montenegro is nearing the finish line, other regional players face different critical milestones.
North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed that his country has long deserved EU membership but remains hindered by artificial reasons. He noted that North Macedonia must implement specific constitutional changes to proceed with negotiations. The summit also addressed regional stability, with Merz condemning violence during recent protests in the region.
Entities
Aleksandar Vučić · Berlin Process · Christian Stocker · European Union · Friedrich Merz · Hristijan Mickoski · Milojko Spajić · Montenegro · Serbia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Germany's support for Western Balkan EU membership. almakos.com · rtsh.al · ts.mk · kohajone.com · trn.mk · +3 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Montenegro is expected to be the first regional country to join the EU. almakos.com · nacionalno.mk · ohridsky.com · digitaldaily.de · sdk.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Friedrich Merz condemned violence in regional protests. rtsh.al · kohajone.com · almakos.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] North Macedonia must implement constitutional changes to continue its EU path. portalb.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The lack of progress in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is hindering regional progress. almakos.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Berlin Process was initiated in 2014 by Angela Merkel. ts.mk · trn.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · sdk.mk
- [● 13 SOURCES] The Berlin Process Summit was held in Montenegro. almakos.com · rtsh.al · www.mesazhi.com · kohajone.com · portalb.mk · +6 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated the country's EU file is complex due to artificial reasons. almakos.com · www.mesazhi.com · ts.mk · zhurnal.mk