EU leaders at Balkan summit optimistic about rapid expansion
Key takeaways
- German Chancellor Merz has said he wants Western Balkan countries to be better integrated into the EU as they seek full membership.
- After the summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was optimistic about a Franco-German initiative aimed at injecting fresh "momentum" into the accession process by creating incentives for faster reforms.
- Host Montenegro leads a list of six candidate countries, which also includes Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia.
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German Chancellor Merz has said he wants Western Balkan countries to be better integrated into the EU as they seek full membership. Commission head Von der Leyen called for a "faster" enlargement process.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Eteq French President Emmanuel Macron (center) is keen to accelerate EU expansion, including to Montenegro Image: Ludovic Marin/AFPAdvertisement Leaders of European Union countries, including gathered in the picturesque port of Tivat on Montenegro's Adriatic coast for the annual EU-Western Balkans summit, with expanding the bloc topping the agenda.
After the summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was optimistic about a Franco-German initiative aimed at injecting fresh "momentum" into the accession process by creating incentives for faster reforms.