Schulz calls for accelerating the process of Western Balkan countries’ accession to the European Union

 
INA-sources
 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for an acceleration of the Western Balkan countries’ accession to the European Union, indicating a “new era” over the conflict in Ukraine.

During a press conference with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in Berlin on Monday, the German chancellor promised to help advance the file “with all the strength” at his disposal.

 “My impression is that we are living in a new era, and this is also connected to the Russian aggression” in Ukraine, Schulz said.
He added that the need to seek common positions was reinforced within the European Union, and for this reason “the time has come to move forward” in the accession process of the Western Balkans.

It is noteworthy that 5 Balkan countries are candidates for membership in the European Union, in addition to the Serbian province of Kosovo, which declared its independence unilaterally.

During the EU summit in Slovenia last October, EU leaders renewed their “commitment to the enlargement process”, without setting a timetable for the accession of the candidate countries