German top diplomat: Western Balkan countries should integrate into the EU

At the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, German foreign minister Baerbock stressed the importance of integrating the Western Balkan countries into the EU, even against the backdrop of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Germany's foreign minister from the Greens, Annalena Baerbock, has once again called for the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU. "We can no longer afford another dark zone in Europe," Baerbock said on Monday (14.04.2025) at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg against the backdrop of Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine. Further integration of the Western Balkans is therefore, according to her, "also a common European peace policy."

Also on the agenda are talks on Albania's membership.

The topic of EU enlargement in the Balkans is one of the issues in the talks of foreign ministers gathered in Luxembourg. Among other things, on the agenda were talks with representatives of Albania regarding this country's membership in the EU. German Minister Baerbock spoke of "a further big step" for Albania towards the EU.

The EU has been offering membership prospects to the Western Balkan countries for more than 20 years. Russia and China are competing for ever-increasing influence in the region./DW (A2 Televizion)