German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will host the leaders of six Western Balkan states in Berlin on Monday for a summit aimed at strengthening ties with the European Union. The summit, part of the Berlin Process, will see participation from EU President Ursula von der Leyen, representatives from nine EU states, and various international organizations. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, a platform designed to bring Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia closer to the European Union.
The Berlin Process was first launched in 2014 with the goal of promoting economic cooperation, regional stability, and political dialogue in the Western Balkans. Germany, a key driver of this initiative, is expected to highlight the progress made by the individual countries during the summit. While most of these nations are official EU membership candidates, Kosovo remains the exception, despite formally applying for membership in 2022. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with Western support, is recognized by over 100 countries, though five EU member states, including Greece and Spain, do not acknowledge its independence due to concerns about similar independence movements within their own borders.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will also attend the summit, with Hungary playing a pivotal role due to its influence in the Western Balkans and its current presidency of the EU Council. The leaders will discuss the region’s future integration into the EU, focusing on political and economic reforms necessary for membership. With the Berlin Process continuing to provide a crucial platform for dialogue, the summit is expected to reinforce commitments to regional cooperation and pave the way for future EU accession for these Balkan states.
