The Foreign Minister of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, considers that the discussion on the rapprochement of the countries of the Western Balkans with the European Union should be accelerated.

No more time should be wasted on integration and harmonization efforts, Baerbock said on Friday, after talks in Berlin with her Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon.

“Nothing should be created in the Balkans where Russia or other actors can settle,” said Baerbock.

Apart from Russia, China is seeking greater influence in the Western Balkans.

“The Western Balkans is geographically in the middle of the EU. We must eventually bring the people of the Western Balkans to our political center”, Baerbock said.

According to the German minister, the European Union should have kept its promise to open membership negotiations, especially with  Albania and North Macedonia.

/Klara Ruci/