Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans, gathered in Berlin, approved a joint statement calling on EU member states to speed up the membership process.

At this meeting, Albania was represented by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that now is the time for the enlargement process to be realized as quickly as possible.

“It has been more than 20 years since the EU promised the membership of the Western Balkan countries in Thessaloniki. We must acknowledge that this promise has not been fulfilled, which is why I can understand why many people are disappointed by this. We now have a historic opportunity to renew the promise made by taking concrete actions. The membership of the Western Balkan states in the EU is a geopolitical necessity. We do not see your countries as ‘grey zones,’ but as partners and European friends. We want you to join the EU as soon as possible,” she stated.

The meeting of the Western Balkans’ foreign ministers precedes a summit of the region’s leaders, which will take place as part of the Berlin Process under the leadership of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. At the leaders’ meeting, Albania will be represented by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

/a.p./