Conference breakthrough in Berlin: The Balkans are moving closer together

German mediation efforts have enabled important progress in regional cooperation among the six countries in the Western Balkans.

At the end of a Western Balkans conference with the foreign ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that "a big step towards a good future for the countries of the Western Balkans" had been taken.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

• Follow I follow

Baerbock reported that, mediated by the German special envoy for the region, Manuel Sarrazin, after "intensive negotiations" three agreements between the six countries were possible, which could significantly strengthen their regional economic cooperation.

It is about agreements on the mutual recognition of personal documents, which means that visas are no longer issued between Serbia and Kosovo, as well as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and university degrees.

This promotes one of the four basic freedoms within the region that also apply within the EU internal market: the free movement of people between the member states.

Baerbock said the six countries in the western Balkans had taken "an important step towards the EU".

The six Balkan countries are either candidate countries or applying for candidate status.

Negotiations have started with Serbia and Montenegro, and after Albania and North Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina is now also to be granted the status of a candidate country.

"Important and tangible improvements in everyday life"

The three agreements are to be signed in just under two weeks at a summit meeting of the heads of state and government of the participating countries in Berlin.

The summit is a follow-up meeting of the so-called "Berlin Process" launched by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel eight years ago to end the Balkan countries' stalemate on their European integration.

Since then, together with France and Poland, but also with the EU countries bordering the region, attempts have been made to strengthen the connections and commonalities of the countries concerned in many areas, for example by expanding transport routes and supply lines,

The six foreign ministers of the Balkan countries approved a statement referring to the three agreements at the end of their conference on Friday.

It states that the six states are thereby fulfilling commitments that had been accepted at a Western Balkans summit in Sofia two years ago;

At that time, those involved agreed on the intention of creating a common regional market, which should follow the pattern of the EU internal market.

Thanks to the three mobility agreements, the citizens of the Balkan region would feel "important and tangible improvements in their everyday life".

The implementation of the agreements is an important opportunity to strengthen mutual trust and the spirit of cooperation in the Western Balkans.

Stronger regional cooperation is, in turn, an important factor on the Western Balkans' path to EU membership. The mobility agreements reduce the region's distance from EU markets and, on the other hand, increase its attractiveness.

The six foreign ministers stated that the "positive movement" that had arisen as a result of the agreement that had now been reached should be used to "advance further key agreements".

At the beginning of the meeting, the German Foreign Minister called for further progress in cooperation between the Balkan countries and in their internal development.

On the one hand, she demanded from the EU member states that they should no longer delay the accession negotiations of the western Balkan countries.

On the other hand, most of the aspiring countries continued to lag behind EU standards in the fight against corruption and the rule of law.

Baerbock warned Serbia and Kosovo that they should overcome their "enduring tensions" and finally be ready to conclude a comprehensive agreement that will regulate the relationship between the two countries.

Serbia called on her to "move closer to European foreign policy" and, for example, to join the European sanctions against Russia.

All in all, Baerbock saw the progress made in the Balkans as proof that the Russian policy of aggression could be countered with successes in peaceful cooperation.

The result of the Berlin meeting gives hope "in these gloomy times".

It is an incentive and shows "openness and courage" of the six countries involved in the agreements.