Russian influence in the Balkans still a concern
Von der Leyen also described the summit as a success, saying that EU enlargement is once again a priority for the 27-member bloc.
The EU has not admitted a new member since Croatia joined in 2013. Von der Leyen admitted that there had been a long period in which “enlargement… was excluded as a possibility.”
“This has completely changed in the last years,” she added.
The EU chief also warned against rising Russian influence in the West Balkans.
“Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has brought clarity — you have to choose to be on the right side of history and on the side of international law,” she said.
The Berlin Process for the Western Balkans explained
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Free trade hopes
The meeting in Berlin comes days after German mediation helped to resolve a long dispute over free trade in the region, something Scholz said was “nothing less than a breakthrough for regional cooperation.”
However, Scholz said that past conflicts continue to hurt cooperation, with relations between Serbia and Kosovo a particular source of difficulty.
“I insist that both parties fully implement the commitments they have made,” Scholz said.
jsi/zc (dpa, AFP)
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Publish date : 2024-10-15 02:28:00
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