The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said it is in the interests of Germany and Europe for the remaining Balkan states to become EU members, and welcomed the decision to grant Bosnia candidate status.
“It is in our German and our European interest for the rest of the Balkans to become part of the European Union,” Scholz told MPs in an address at the Bundestag in Berlin.
Supporters of the EU’s eastward expansion argue that the bloc’s engagement with the western Balkans is vital for protecting European security in the face of Russian aggression.
On Tuesday, diplomats in Brussels agreed to accept Bosnia as a candidate for membership. EU heads of government are expected to endorse that decision at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Bosnia joins four other western Balkan countries: Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania – as well as Turkey, Moldova and Ukraine in the queue for membership. Moldova and Ukraine’s candidacies were confirmed in June. The process of joining can take decades.
Croatia is currently the only western Balkan state that is an EU member.
Credit: theguardian.com
