German Chancellor Merz pushes faster EU accession for six Western Balkan nations

During a summit in Montenegro, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a swift EU enlargement that includes Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. He promised Germany’s personal support while insisting that the candidate governments must implement the necessary reforms and demonstrate political commitment. The meeting, held on the Montenegrin Adriatic coast, is a continuation of the Berlin Process, a framework created by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014 to deepen political and economic ties between the EU and the Western Balkans.

Merz highlighted that Montenegro’s accession negotiations are expected to finish no later than 2027 under current expectations. He also pointed to a joint Franco-German proposal that would allow candidate countries to enjoy certain EU advantages, such as easier market access and observer status, once they meet specific reform targets. The remarks underline Germany’s role in driving the enlargement agenda while placing responsibility on the Balkan states to advance their own integration.